Pet retailer Jollyes has reinforced its executive team, hiring leaders from some of Britain’s prominent retailers.
The announcement comes in the wake of Jollyes’ launch of its dedicated recruitment and careers website, preparing for continued expansion with new store openings planned across the UK. The new website has already attracted substantial interest, generating over 7,000 applications within its first few weeks of operation.
The Jollyes Board has seen two key additions who will work alongside CEO Joe Wykes, emphasising the company’s ambitions in the pet retail sector. Adam Dury, who joins as Chief Operating Officer in January, brings experience from his five-year tenure as Chief Commercial Officer at Card Factory plc and prior commercial roles at Tesco and Marks and Spencer. Dury will join Wykes, Chairman Andy Bond, and Chief Financial Officer Richard Willan on the main board. Willan, who joined in May 2024, has held finance director roles at Coca-Cola and Whitbread, with additional experience in strategy and finance roles at Sainsbury’s, Argos, and McKinsey.
New Leadership Strengthening Senior Team
Jollyes’ senior leadership team is bolstered by three notable appointments. Anne Galloway, joining as Trading Director, comes with over two decades of experience in buying and merchandising roles at Tesco. Her previous responsibilities include leading Tesco’s home category commercial teams, encompassing pet care as well as toys, hardware, and F&F clothing.
The role of Chief Technology Officer has been taken up by Matt Johnston, who joins from Sainsbury’s, where he was Head of Data Science, responsible for driving value from data within both Sainsbury’s and Argos. Rounding out the new hires, Katherine Paterson is set to join next month as Chief Marketing Officer after her twelve-year tenure as Customer Director at Hobbycraft, with additional senior roles in marketing and e-commerce at B&Q/Kingfisher, Asda, and Mars.
Continued Expansion Plans
In addition to these significant leadership hires, Jollyes continues to grow its physical footprint across the UK. Last month, the company opened a new store at Monks Cross Shopping Park in York, marking an expansion of 50% over the last three years. New store openings are scheduled in East Kilbride, Leyland, and Cardiff for November, with an accelerated pace of expansion planned for 2025.
CEO Joe Wykes expressed enthusiasm for the company’s progress: “It’s a measure of the progress we’ve made that we’re now able to attract some of the best talent in British retailing to join our team. And while we’ve had a tremendous couple of years, continuing to fulfil our ambitious growth plans will depend on us hiring, nurturing, and supporting people who can build great careers at Jollyes. We’re determined to be first in line as great people look for great roles, whether that’s in the boardroom or on the shopfloor.”
