Strategy & Operations » Leadership & Management » Ex-finance chief steps up to HSS’ boss role

Ex-finance chief steps up to HSS' boss role

John Gill, who originally joined HSS as CFO, has taken on the CEO role

THE FORMER CFO of equipment hire group HSS is to step up to CEO.

John Gill (pictured), who joined the company as CFO in 2009 before taking the COO post last year, has been named CEO with immediate effect. Current CEO Chris Davies, who had served with the business for nine years, has stepped down but will stay until the end of the year to ensure a smooth handover.

Gill had previously served in a series of roles with Kingfisher and GE Capital before being appointed finance director of Screwfix Direct.

He will continue to drive the company strategy of rolling out new-style local branches and developing its logistics and distribution network, which will include a national distribution centre next year. Current trading and market conditions are as HSS has previously set out to investors.

“John’s record and strong leadership skills as both CFO and COO have ensured that he has been a central part of the board’s thinking on succession planning for some time,” said Alan Peterson, Chairman of HSS.

“John has been closely involved in developing and implementing the group’s distribution and logistics strategy and is ideally placed to lead the rebasing of our cost structure and make improvements to operating margin. I’m confident that he will make the step-up to the chief executive role quickly and effectively.

“Chris has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the business since 2006 when he led the company through a change in strategy and steered it successfully through the financial crisis.”

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