UK Flooring Direct sees clearly as it appoints former Specsavers exec as COO

Published by

Nicky Godding

Leading Midlands-based online flooring retailer has made a major new appointment as it has its sights firmly set on further growth.

UK Flooring Direct has appointed Sean Lawe, the former Group Supply Chain Director at Specsavers, as Chief Operating Officer.

It is the latest move by the company, which sells quality own-brand wood, laminate, and vinyl flooring direct to consumers and trade across the country from bases in Hinckley and Coventry, to strengthen its senior leadership team that includes CEO Jason Ashby, CCO Josh Ashby and CFO Darren Gilbert.

Sean spent 16 years with Specsavers before taking a short-term contract with online kitchenware retailer Joseph Joseph. His knowledge and experience in dealing with supply chains will support the company’s continued growth, with plans to add a range of new categories in the coming months.

He said: “This was an opportunity to join a business that is growing – and growing quickly.

“It has reached the stage, with more than 170 employees and plans for many more, that the senior leadership team needed to reflect that. It’s part of the evolution of the business, which every firm that expands quickly needs to go through.

“In my previous role at Specsavers, the company grew to having between 45 and 50 per cent of market share and was a major success story. Part of that was down to knowing when the time was right to go to the market for the right people to strengthen the team.

“When it comes to supply chains, I try to keep it as simple as possible and, whatever the product – whether its frames or flooring – 95 per cent of the process is the same.

“Items are made, they are moved and then they are delivered in an effective manner. My objective is to make sure we achieve excellence and that is what brings me satisfaction.

“These are very exciting times for UK Flooring Direct and I am looking forward to helping Jason, Josh, Darren and the rest of the team deliver continued fast-paced growth.”

Jason Ashby said: “We are delighted to bring in someone with Sean’s knowledge and experience.

“We have serious growth ambitions for 2021 including several new categories and Sean will play an integral part in that.”

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.