BGL appoints new group director

The BGL Group has announced the appointment of David Downie as group director of intermediated businesses.

Downie joins the group from HSS Hire Group. As chief operating officer, his responsibilities included branch and central operations, commercial, supply chain, contact centres and customer services. He played a major part in driving the company’s transition from a B2C organisation to a significant B2B player. 

Prior to this, Downie was group HR director at The 4U Group, having spent a further 16 years with Asda in a number of roles before joining the executive board, first as retail director and then logistics director.

In his new role, he is a member of the BGL Group board, reporting to chief operating officer, Matthew Donaldson. He holds responsibility for Junction, Frontline, Bennetts, Fusion, panel and product development and pricing.

Donaldson said: “David’s appointment to the board consolidates our new structural approach, which supports the continuing growth of the group’s businesses. He joins us at an important time. Junction, our affinity arm, is driving for growth through enhancing its technology capabilities, while our own-brand businesses Dial Direct and Budget, within Frontline, have a number of new initiatives underway to deliver value to our insurer partners.

“Fusion, our contact centre operation, is making a £1 million investment in technology to further improve customer service. And Bennetts is beginning the 2012 biking season with some innovative plans to take its customer engagement to even greater heights. We welcome David to the group. His expertise and management experience will be a valuable asset in driving our future success.”