New Appointments at Blackcircles.com Support Rapid Expansion

Innovative tyre retailer Blackcircles.com has announced two new additions to its executive team as it prepares for another year of exciting growth. Launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch (28), the online tyre retailer has set a new quality standard for the tyre industry and strong sales in 2006 has seen it create the two new posts of commercial director and head of finance.

Signalling its increased standing within the industry, Blackcircles has secured former Kwik-Fit director David Jeanes who has over 20 years retail trading experience and will head up commercial functions at a time of rapid expansion for the business. Prior to joining Kwik-Fit he held senior procurement roles with Tesco, Safeway and the Kingfisher Group.

Also joining Blackcircles is Kenny Baillie, who becomes Head of Finance and Business Performance. Baillie joins from Scottish Widows where he was Head of Management Reporting with his previous experience including Chartered Accountants Tenon and Scottish Amicable.

Blackcircles.com reports that it is continuing to gain market share and has now introduced a mobile tyre fitting service. This service enables customers to buy online or through the Blackcircles.com call centre and have their tyres fitted at one of the company’s 900 branded fitting centres found across the UK.

Jeanes and Baillie will now play a key role in supporting Welch to pursue further growth in the UK through online sales and the company’s fast growing franchise network which has signed up over 100 local garages and continues to bring on more every month.

Mike Welch commented: “I believe we have made two exceptional appointments. In David we have someone that will help enhance the cutting edge developments that have been put in place across the Blackcircles.com’ supply chain. He will play a major role in further improving the commercial aspects of the business and helping to maintain our sales growth which is continuing to exceed expectations.

“Kenny is highly ambitious and a perfect fit for a fast moving innovative business and I am looking forward to working with him over the coming year.”

With the business showing no signs of slowing in its growth, Welch decided now was the right time for taking a major step forward in the development of the senior executive team.

“Retail excites me and everything we do at Blackcircles.com is about adding value for the customer but if we are to do this effectively it is important that we have people on board with retail experience of the highest calibre,” said he explains.

“A lot of businesses fail because the managing director resists the inevitable requirement to develop the skills of the management team by trying to control everything. That is not a trap Blackcircles.com will fall into and what we have done is bring in the right people with the right skills at the right time to help us realise our potential as a business.”