New area chairmen announced for the GCA

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has this month (March, 2014) announced its new area chairmen who will represent member garden centres in each region.

Under the new GCA chairmanship of Will Armitage the regions will look to help improve opportunities for members and help them to get more from the organisation.
 
Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “We’re delighted to have our area chairmen for 2014. Each one will take over the representation of the member garden centres in their area.
 
“I hope to see big things from each region in the coming year and I would like to help members get more from the body through the stronger regional groups. In the late 1990s and early 2000s regional activity was very strong so it would be good for that to be reinvigorated again.
 
“Business Development Manager, Tim Mason, from Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres has taken over the role of chairman from Julian Winfield for the South Thames region. Julian has gone on to become Chairman Elect. Paul Wright, former regional manager for The Garden Centre Group, has taken over the North Thames chair role, which was previously held by Caroline Owen.”
 
Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s Managing Director, Mike Lind, will take over from Mike Burks as the chairman for the Wales and the West region and Van Hage Garden Centre’s Group Retail Operations Manager, Philippa McKean, will continue to chair for the Midlands area. 
 
The new North West chairman will be Alyson Haywood, who is the General Manager of Moreton Park Garden Centre. James Ducker, who is the Director of Langlands Garden Centres, will be the North East region’s chairperson.
 
Caulders Garden Centre Managing Director, Colin Barrie, will continue with the role of chairman for Scotland until a replacement volunteer is found.
 
Will added: “I would like to wish all of our new chairmen the very best of luck in their new positions. We’re looking forward to seeing great things from each of them and we believe great improvements will be seen for each region.”
 
The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.
 
For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.