// Travis Perkins drafts in new chair designate
// Christopher Rogers is currently a non-executive director at Travis Perkins
// Travis Perkins is in the process of separating Wickes from the company
Travis Perkins has appointed Christopher Rogers as the new chair designate of Wickes as part of an ongoing process to separate it from the company.
The home improvement retailer revealed the demerger in its interim results last July as part of its plan to focus on trade customers and simplify the business.
Rogers is currently a non-executive director at Travis Perkins but he will not stand for re-election following the group AGM at the end of April.
READ MORE: Wickes owner Travis Perkins refits boardroom
Moreover, the demerger is due to be completed in the second quarter of 2020.
“Rogers has extensive financial, operational and retail experience and expertise in corporate governance and strategic planning,” Travis Perkins wrote on its website.
Prior to Travis Perkins, Rogers was a director of Whitbread from 2005 to 2016 where he served as group finance director from 2005 to 2012 and managing director of Costa Coffee from 2012 to 2016.
He was group finance director of Woolworth Group and chairman of the Woolworth Entertainment businesses from 2001 to 2005 and previously held senior roles in both finance and commercial functions in Comet Group and Kingfisher.
In the six months to June 30, the DIY chain saw its like-for-like sales increase by 9.7 per cent, boosting adjusted operating profit by 49 per cent to £52 million.
Travis Perkins’ retail division, which includes Tile Giant, recorded £695 million in sales during the period.
The Travis Perkins group registered an overall increase of 14.7 per cent in adjusted operating profit to £195 million, on sales of £2.7 billion.
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