Senior leadership changes at Halfords as it merges customer and commercial functions

Halfords has outlined a number of senior leadership changes, including the appointment of a new chief operations officer, as it mergers customer and commercial functions.

Andy Randall is stepping down from his post as chief operations officer, as he retires after a 45-year career. He is succeeded by Rob Keates, who moves from the role of chief transformation officer.

Randall's achievements include building a "very successful" Halfords Autocentres business, growing Halfords' mobile proposition, bringing the teams of Tyres on the Drive, McConechys, Universal, National & Viking, and HaveBike into the One Halfords Family, the development of the company's PACE software, and the launch of its Avayler business. 

He will maintain a strong connection with Halfords, providing his skills to support any further M&A and the further growth of the Avayler business.

Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton said, “On top of his many achievements, Andy has always been great fun to work with and is a much-loved character across the Group.  He has been a huge support to me as a key member of my Executive team.  I thank him for his support and wish him all the very best.”  

The company's customer and commercial teams are also being combined under the leadership of Karen Bellairs, as chief customer and commercial officer.   

Stapleton added: "As the UK’s biggest consumer motoring services provider, aligning the structure of my team to the rapidly changing macro-economic environment is a key step in ensuring that Halfords is fit for the future, and can support our customers through a lifetime of motoring and cycling.”

Halfords redoubled its focus on offering vehicle servicing and tyres with the £62 million acquisition of the National service centre network, last year.

It has completed a £63.4m equity fundraising to support the deal which sees the addition of 239 garages and 60 mobile fitting vans from National Tyres and Autocare, Viking Wholesale Tyres, and Tyre Shopper-branded operations – along with 1,400 new employees.

The Halfords network now totals 604 garages and 404 bike shops.