Daniel Quest has been promoted to the new role of business development director at Musgrave Retail Partners GB.

The role has been created to support Musgrave GB's independent retailers and to develop the Budgens and Londis brands, following the company's commitment earlier this year to improve sales, availability and service.

Quest joined Budgens as head of finance in 2002. He then became head of commercial development and was responsible for transferring all of Budgens' corporate stores to independent ownership, which he completed last October, a year ahead of schedule.

In his new role, he will be a member of the board of directors, reporting directly to Phil Smith, MD of Musgrave GB.

"This is a new role for our business, designed to ensure our retail partners have the best possible opportunity to expand their businesses and drive growth in their local markets," said Smith.

Quest added: "Creating this new function will allow us to expand alongside our retail partners through a number of channels including business and site acquisitions and recruiting progressive independent retailers to enhance theLondis and Budgens brands."

The appointment is the fifth high-profile move at the company in less than a year. Last month, Steve Lucas became sales director for Londis following the departure of Garry Craft. In March, former Marks & Spencer director Andrew Mounsey was appointed sales director for Budgens. Jemima Tomlinson was named marketing director last December, while Phil Smith, former commercial and operations director of Camelot, was named managing director last June.

The company is also searching for a replacement for trading director Barry Williams who left the retailer last month.


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