David Roche, most recently part of a group seeking to buy Ottakar's, the British bookstore chain
that will likely be bought by HMV and Waterstone's, has been named chief of
executive of Borders UK, effective today.
Phil Downer, who had been managing director and chief operating officer of Borders UK, has become retail director, with responsibility for operations and property, and will report to Roche. Also reporting to Roche: commercial director Cathy Ferrier, HR director Beverley Newman and IT director Gary Mudie. Operations director Rob Farnworth has left the company.
Roche last year joined a group led by Ottakar's founder-managers James Heneage and Philip Dunne that made a bid to purchase the company. A higher bid from HMV, owner of Waterstone's, was accepted by Ottakar's independent directors, but it is being scrutinized by the Competition Commission. (Yesterday Ottakar's said that Roche's appointment to Borders will be "of benefit to the book industry as a whole.")
Before joining Ottakar's, Roche had worked at HMV and Waterstone's, joining Waterstone's from HMV as product director in January 2002 and working at the bookseller until August last year. Roche was also elected president of the Booksellers Association in April 2005 and earlier had chaired the BA/Publishers Association Liaison Group.
Roche was named Retail Personality of the Year at the Bookseller Retail Awards last September.
In a statement, Rick Vanzura, president of Borders Group International, commented: "David Roche has made an outstanding contribution to British bookselling and has extensive experience in music and DVD retailing and store operations." He added that "Philip Downer has done an excellent job of developing the company over the past three years and we are delighted that he will continue to apply his operational talents on our behalf."
Since beginning operations in the U.K. in 1998 and purchasing Books etc., Borders has grown to 36 superstores and 33 small-format stores, primarily in downtowns and airports. Like other British bookstore companies, Borders UK had a difficult 2005.
Phil Downer, who had been managing director and chief operating officer of Borders UK, has become retail director, with responsibility for operations and property, and will report to Roche. Also reporting to Roche: commercial director Cathy Ferrier, HR director Beverley Newman and IT director Gary Mudie. Operations director Rob Farnworth has left the company.
Roche last year joined a group led by Ottakar's founder-managers James Heneage and Philip Dunne that made a bid to purchase the company. A higher bid from HMV, owner of Waterstone's, was accepted by Ottakar's independent directors, but it is being scrutinized by the Competition Commission. (Yesterday Ottakar's said that Roche's appointment to Borders will be "of benefit to the book industry as a whole.")
Before joining Ottakar's, Roche had worked at HMV and Waterstone's, joining Waterstone's from HMV as product director in January 2002 and working at the bookseller until August last year. Roche was also elected president of the Booksellers Association in April 2005 and earlier had chaired the BA/Publishers Association Liaison Group.
Roche was named Retail Personality of the Year at the Bookseller Retail Awards last September.
In a statement, Rick Vanzura, president of Borders Group International, commented: "David Roche has made an outstanding contribution to British bookselling and has extensive experience in music and DVD retailing and store operations." He added that "Philip Downer has done an excellent job of developing the company over the past three years and we are delighted that he will continue to apply his operational talents on our behalf."
Since beginning operations in the U.K. in 1998 and purchasing Books etc., Borders has grown to 36 superstores and 33 small-format stores, primarily in downtowns and airports. Like other British bookstore companies, Borders UK had a difficult 2005.