Andy Bond to return to Pepco as chairman

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Nov 25, 2022

Andy Bond, former CEO of Pepco Group, is set to make a dramatic return to the fast-growing pan-European variety discount retailer. Following its AGM next February, Bond will become its chairman, almost a year after he stood down as chief executive for health reasons.

Pepco, which owns chains including Pepco, Poundland and Dealz and also makes and sells the Pep&Co fashion line, will welcome back a  “fully-recovered” Bond to replace Richard Burrows, who joined as chairman in May 2021 at the time of the company’s IPO. He will step down from the board at the end of the AGM.

Bond will also be joined by a new group chief financial officer, with Neil Galloway arriving next April from international hybrid working spaces provider IWG where he is executive vice-president.

Burrows said: “It is great to welcome Andy back as incoming Chairman. Alongside Trevor Masters as CEO, Neil Galloway as CFO and an experienced Board, Pepco Group will continue on its ambitious expansion plan. Having led the board since the IPO and a smooth leadership transition to Trevor, I have seen the effectiveness of our strategy translate into very tangible growth and now is the right time for me to step aside.”

Galloway is described as "an experienced public company CFO" who worked in senior finance and commercial roles at multi-nationals over the last 15 years, including in cross-border retail. Before IWG, he was Group Finance Director and an Executive Director from 2013 to 2019 at The Dairy Farm Group (now DFI Retail Group), the London and Singapore-listed international multi-format retailer that operates supermarkets, convenience stores, health and beauty stores, home furnishings stores and restaurants across 11 markets in Asia.

CEO Masters said of Galloway: “Neil brings a wealth of retail and finance experience, and a track record in supporting growing businesses in global markets. His expertise will be instrumental in supporting the Group’s strategy to be a bigger, better, cheaper and simpler business. I would like to sincerely thank Mat Ankers, who continues to make a significant contribution as interim CFO and will enable a smooth transition as Neil joins.”