JJB strengthens top team as Williams bows out

NORTH west retailer JJB Sports, has boosted its senior management, and announced the departure of Peter Williams, who played a key role in helping the company avoid administration.

The Wigan company, which last month persuaded landlords of 150 closed shops to accept a Company Voluntary Arrangement deal, said it had appointed Lawrence Coppock as finance director and Colin Tranter as director of retail and product.

Mr Coppock has 20 years’ experience of running the financial affairs of leading companies. Most recently he was finance director at the Wyndeham Press Group.
Between 2000 and 2004 he worked with MFI Group initially as group finance director and he was previously FD of B&Q between 1988 and 1994.

Mr Tranter has had a long career in global sales and merchandising, and from 1986-2001 was managing director of CAT International, buying and sourcing clothing for a range of leading British retailers, including River Island.

He has agreed to take on the task of rejuvenating JJB’s product ranges and its stores.

Former Selfridges and Alpha Airports chief executive Peter Williams, who worked with the company since last December and who has served as executive director since January, will leave the group and step down from the board at the end of this month.

Executive chairman Sir David Jones said: “I am delighted that two people of Lawrence’s and Colin’s calibre have agreed to join us and take on the task of renewing and rebuilding JJB.

“With our financial restructuring progressing very well we have all the tools to develop this group into Britain’s premier sports retailer, for customers who are serious about their sport. 

“At the same time I would like to express my enormous thanks to Peter, who was there for JJB when we needed a man of his skills most. He worked tirelessly to rescue this business.”