Sofa retailer ScS appoints former Argos boss Walden chair

ScS has 98 stores across the UK (ScS )

Sofa retailer Scs has appointed former Argos boss John Walden as chairman replacing Alan Smith who will retire form the business at the end of next year.

Walden will join the ScS board as Independent non-executive director and chairman designate at the beginning of March 2023. He is currently non-Executive chair of used car seller Motorpoint and SnowFox Topco Ltd, the Guernsey investment company behind restaurant chain Yo Sushi.

Smith said: “I am delighted that John is joining the ScS Board and will, in time, succeed me as chair of the group.

“He brings deep board level expertise in both executive and non-executive capacities, has excellent consumer driven and omnichannel experience, and has led transformational and digital change, both in the UK and US. John will be a great addition to the ScS team.”

Last month, the mainly retail park-based retailer warned that cost-of-living pressures had hit orders despite ScS still lifting its profit expectations for the rest of the year.

The furniture retailer reported a 3.9% increase in orders in the year to July 30, compared with the previous year.

Walden has held a number of senior roles including chair of Naked Wines and chair of Holland & Barrett International. He was also previously executive director at FTD Companies and CEO of Argos and its parent company Home Retail Group.

Prior to that he held several senior roles with Best Buy, including executive vice-president and president of its online division.

He said: “I am pleased to be joining the Board at ScS. The business is a leader in its sector, and is operationally excellent with a strong balance sheet, solid board and leadership team and an opportunity and plan for improvement and growth. I look forward to working with the ScS team.”