Booths CEO Chris Dee

Upmarket northern retailer Booths has promoted Chris Dee to chief executive officer – a new role in the business. The promotion sees the company’s former chief operating officer since 2012 take much greater control. He will report directly to the family board and chairman Edwin Booth.

Dee has been with Booths for 20 years. He joined as wines & spirits buyer, before becoming trading director in 2009.

He is credited with having been instrumental in forging strong and resilient links with suppliers at Booths, best typified by the pioneering Fair Milk scheme which pledges to pay dairy farmers the highest farm gate price in the market.

Edwin Booth said he had “tremendous confidence” in Dee to continue to grow and develop the business. “He has the vision and, crucially, the ability to share that vision and inspire others to follow him.”

Dee’s promotion comes as Booths prepares for the largest and most ambitious expansion in its history, opening five new stores in a year. This began with Barrowford, Lancashire, in December. Booths is scheduled to open in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester this April, followed by stores in Burscough, St Anne’s and Poulton Le Fylde later in 2015.

Booths also announced the appointment of Mike Thomson, who joins the operating board as estates director.

He is a 10-year veteran of the 30-store business, managing the construction of 11 new outlets, the relocation of the distribution and central office facilities and the ongoing refurbishment of existing stores. Booth said: “Mike Thomson brings considerable skill and experience in construction and engineering at a critical time in Booths’ development. These two appointments put us in an excellent position to widen the appeal of the Booths brand.”  

Simon Booth, supply chain director, and Graham Booth, property director, will leave the operational board this year, but they will remain on the family board. Edwin Booth remains chairman of both the operational and family boards.