Partner Article

Bargain Booze snaps up new chief financial officer from rival

Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail has appointed former Musgrave Retail Partners finance director Julie Wirth as its chief finance officer.

Conviviality Retail, based in Crewe, also runs the Select Convenience and Thoroughoods chains. It is one of the UK’s largest franchised-led off-licence chains, and last week floated on the AIM stock exchange.

Julie Wirth replaces Peter Hodgson, who has been in the post for more than 20 years, and who will retire after a handover period.

Conviviality Retail chief executive Diana Hunter said: “I am delighted to welcome to Conviviality a finance director of the calibre and experience of Julie. She has worked in businesses that utilise the same model so understands fully the axis between the company and its partners, the franchisees.”

Musgrave Retail Partners GB includes the Budgens and Londis brands where Julie Wirth has been finance director since 2008.

Before this she held a number of roles within Home Retail Group over a 20 year period, finally as the director of group finance and was involved in the company’s demerger from GUS and flotation on the London Stock Exchange.

Wirth said: “I look forward to joining Diana and the team and see Conviviality as a terrific opportunity to join a business with strong brands, the appropriate capital structure and a robust platform for growth. I am delighted to be joining at this most exciting time.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .