Retail veteran to head DFS

The Doncaster-based group said it has appointed former Alliance Boots trading director Ian Filby to the role.

DFS was bought by private equity firm Advent International in April for 500m. It has since been trying to find a chief executive to work alongside chairman Richard Baker, chief operating officer Jon Massey and finance director Bill Barnes.

Mr Filby has thirty years' retail experience, primarily with Alliance Boots, where his most recent roles were retail brand development director and trading director.

Until January he was also interim chief executive for Nectar, the UK's leading coalition loyalty programme.

Mr Baker said: "Having worked with Ian at Boots for four years, I have had first-hand experience of his skills and capabilities.

"Ian is perfectly suited to the role of chief executive of DFS.

"His core strengths are in the areas of marketing and brand development, product and range management, store format development as well as online, which are all key elements of the DFS business model."

Mr Filby said: "I am delighted to be joining the DFS team. I am looking forward to both leading the company through its next period of growth and to working with Richard once again.

"DFS is a strong brand with a unique culture and I believe that it has an exciting future ahead."

Forty-year-old DFS operates from 74 sofa stores across the UK and employs more than 2,600 people.