Sterling Furniture Group has created a new role of ceo, with Gordon Mearns stepping down.
Former ScS commercial director John Pattison will take up the new role in August.
Mearns, current md will work closely with Pattison during his initial months in post, to ensure a smooth management transition. Mearns is stepping down from Sterling after two decades at the helm, during which time he grew the company to include 600 staff working across 10 showrooms.
‘After a rigorous recruitment process where we interviewed a breadth of excellent candidates, we feel we’ve found absolutely the right person for our new ceo role in John. A highly experienced retail leader, he worked his way up from the shop floor to boardroom roles at major national firms, including ScS, Londis and Booker Retail Partners. We were very impressed by the way he dedicated a significant amount of time getting to know the business during the recruitment process, visiting each of our stores in person multiple times. Like us, John believes in the massive potential to make Sterling a recognised national brand once again and he’s brimming with exciting ideas to help us make that happen. We can’t wait for him to get started,’ says Lesley Graham, Sterling deputy md.
‘I’m hugely privileged to be joining Sterling Furniture Group, particularly in such an important year, recognising 50 years of long and successful service to Scottish households and families. Over the past few years, the business has shown great courage and ambition in transforming into Sterling Home. I know that the aspiration of the family, following in the footsteps of our founder George Knowles, is to continue to inspire Scotland’s homes as we enter the next 50 years. I can’t wait to join the team,’ says Pattinson.
In other developments at Sterling, members of the third generation of the family are now also working in the business, including Graham’s two sons, Murray and Euan and her nephew, George, who have been appointed as directors.
Pictured: L-R: George Knowles, Lesley Graham, John Pattison, Euan Graham and Murray Graham
