Conviviality swoops for Argos top man

CREWE-based Conviviality, owner of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, has appointed Argos chief operating officer David Robinson as managing director of Conviviality Retail, its business unit focused on franchise store operations.

Robinson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent more than 20 years working in senior roles in the retail industry across a range of disciplines, including commercial, marketing and operations.

His start date at the company, which, since the acquisition of Matthew Clark, is the UK’s leading independent wholesaler and distributor of alcoholic beverages to the trade market, has yet to be confirmed.

Robinson will join the business from Home Retail Group plc where he was a member of the executive board and, most recently, COO of Argos.
 
In this role, he was one of the architects of Argos’ Transformation Plan and successfully led the implementation of its strategic, operational and financial plans.
 
Conviviality has also unveiled Mark Simmonds as commercial finance director for Conviviality Retail.  

He joins from Mitchells and Butlers where he was director of financial planning and analysis. Prior to this he held a number of finance and commercial roles during his 19 years with the business.  Simmonds will take up his role in March.

Conviviality chief executive Diana Hunter said: “We believe we now have a strong team in place to drive the Conviviality Retail business forward.”