Focus Group hands reins to David Robey

David Robey has been named as the top marketer for the Focus Group, which includes retailers Focus Do It All and DIY chains Wickes and Great Mills.

Formerly commercial director at Wickes, Robey is now group marketing director. He will report to Barry Norris, chief executive of the Focus retail group. Robey joined Wickes as commercial director in August last year. Before that he was chief executive of Co-operative Retail Services.

Within the group, Focus Do It All and Wickes will have their own managing directors. David Pearson, former trading director at Focus Do It All, has been made managing director. Wickes commercial director Richard Bird becomes managing director. Bill Archer, formerly chairman and chief executive of Focus Do It All, becomes chairman of the group.