Houlden Group CEO Stuart Laing to retire after 40 years

The Houlden Group has announced that its founder and CEO Stuart Laing will retire in June 2017, with a successor planned to be announced in June 2015. 

Applications for the role were encouraged at the company’s first meeting in 2015, and it is expected that the new leader will come from within the group.

Houlden did not indicate what the successful candidate’s brief will be during the extraordinarily lengthy interim.

The company said that it will enlist the advice of a professional third-party recruitment agency throughout the process, and will consider a change to the structure of its directorship to allow for a smooth transition.

Helen Haddow, finance and administrative director, said: “How do you replace Stuart Laing?  It is not possible to replicate what Stuart has brought to the group, however his focus, passion for the business and entrepreneurial flair mirror what we see in many of the Houlden businesses.

We want to engage and tap into the wealth of talent that lies within the Houlden Group.”

Laing said: “For over 40 years it has been my privilege to work with some of the best independent retailers in the UK and Ireland, and to recognise what we have achieved together.  However the time has come to hand over the reins of this group, which through its genuine camaraderie, mutual support and friendship, is quite unique in the industry.”

Laing founded Houlden in 1975 to make the most of volume buying discounts, using his mother’s maiden name for the business.

A few years later he partnered with Peter Lunn and the late Tony Rudell to form the limited company Houlden Jewellers. The group saw a combined retail turnover in excess of £250m for 2014.