The Garden Centre Group announces two new Executive Appointments

Frank Hayes joins as Commercial Director and will be driving forward the growth of our concessions business, creating plans to develop both our existing partners and attract new partners.

Frank was previously CEO and Commercial Director of Betts Group, a private equity-backed global packaging manufacturer supplying the major FMCG companies. He led a restructuring of the business and of its key customer relationships which dramatically improved its profitability and cash position, enabling a refinancing and successful sale of the business.

Prior to that Frank was Managing Director of Spirit Food, the pub/restaurant division of Spirit Group, where he led a turnaround of the operating businesses and estate expansion through pub conversions. Frank previously spent 13 years at Yum! Brands (formerly PepsiCo Restaurants) in various international supply chain and general management roles including five years as General Manager of Yum!’s businesses in Spain and France. Frank started his career at Bain & Company, the leading firm of strategy consultants.

Sarah Biggers joins the Group as Human Resources Director, overseeing the HR, Training & Talent functions, with responsibility for managing the attraction, retention, motivation and development of the Garden Centre Group’s 5,000 employees.

Sarah joins the Group after having spent the last 18 months working as an independent consultant and providing interim HR cover and strategic HR project support to a range of businesses. Previously, Sarah worked for the Virgin Group, initially as HR Manager for Virgin Active, where she was responsible for putting in place the HR infrastructure in the early years of the company’s growth. Subsequently she was Head of People for Virgin Management where she led teams delivering business partnering services to Virgin Management and Virgin’s smaller operating businesses and managing the key relationships and cross-group projects with the HR teams across the Virgin Group.

Speaking of these appointments, Kevin Bradshaw said, “I am delighted to welcome Sarah and Frank to the team. Through their leadership, we will be able to attract, retain and develop the best people and the best concession partners. Their contribution will help us build even greater momentum as we continue to develop and grow the business. “