Retailer Carpetright has appointed former Gala Coral Group managing director Wilf Walsh as its new chief executive.
When Walsh takes up his position on 21 July, executive chairman Lord Harris of Peckham will become non-executive chairman and will retire from the board at the company’s AGM on 4 September although he will remain available to Walsh in an advisory capacity.
Lord Harris said: "I will be 72 this year and shareholders will be aware that I have been planning a managed hand-over of my responsibilities for some time. I am delighted that Wilf Walsh has agreed to join Carpetright as chief executive. He has strong retail and online credentials and a successful track record in managing multi-site consumer-facing businesses. I am confident that I will be leaving the business in safe hands."
Walsh added: "Carpetright is a great brand and I am looking forward to working with the team to drive profitability and share going forward. Lord Harris has 56 years in the carpet business and will be a hard act to follow but the market-leading position he has built for the business is an excellent place from which to start."
Carpetright is now embarking on a search for a new chairman although deputy chairman Baroness Noakes will become interim chairman if an appointment has not been made by the AGM.