Management changes at EVO Group

There have been numerous key management changes at EVO and at Complete, the dealer that was bought by its Banner subsidiary at the start of 2023. At EVO, appointments have been announced following a strategic review of its buying function.

Stuart Bleese has been named Product Management Director and Gilly Blackburn is now Procurement Framework Director. EVO Buying Director Simon McLoughlin said: “These new roles […] bring together a wealth of knowledge and experience, alongside a continued enthusiasm for improvement and change.”

There have also been two significant departures at EVO, with experienced UK office products exec Debbie Nice leaving at the end of April. Nice had been with Vasanta/EVO since 2011, occupying a number of senior category and merchandising roles, and most recently serving as the group’s Business Development Director. She had previously been Head of Marketing at VOW between 1994 and 2005 and also worked for Spicers, Neville & Gladstone, Office Friendly and CPD.

Nice said she was taking a break from full-time work and would enjoy some free time for self-development and travel. “I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with the best colleagues, customers and suppliers in the office products industry over the past 35 years – thank you to you all, it’s been a blast!”

At the end of April, Group Marketing Director Cheryl Lamont also revealed her departure, marking the end of her third spell at the group – in various guises – since she first joined in 1997. Her leaving, Workplace360 understands, was due to a restructuring of the marketing team.

A Complete Team

At Complete, meanwhile, EVO said the leadership team was now in place following its acquisition. Former Complete Business Solutions Chief Commercial Officer Adam Noble has left the business. He had joined the Complete fold when Derby-based dealer Irongate –where he had been CEO for 30 years – was acquired at the end of 2018. He then took on the role of Managing

Director at Complete before becoming Chief Commercial Officer in 2021 when the senior management team was expanded. Noble told Workplace360 that he was taking a short break before deciding on his next career move.

Complete Regional Director John Barker has been named Managing Director, following a long career at the reseller in operations and sales. Elaine Collett – who spent almost 20 years at OfficeTeam before joining Complete in 2020 – has been appointed Head of Sales. She is supported by two new Regional Sales Managers for the North and South, Karen Blatherwick and Carl Rundle.

Other positions include:

• Pamela Wakefield, Head of Facilities

• Lee Jervis, Head of Workwear Operations

• Phil Sibson, Head of Interiors

• Jonathan Thiem, Managing Director of Technology

• Nigel Hindmarch, Head of Purchasing

• Ian Robins, National Service Director

• Alex Gerrard, Interim Financial Director

• Rebecca Bower, Senior Commercial Financial Manager

EVO CEO Andrew Gale said he was “delighted” with the progress made over the past five months, with the right leadership in place to “carry Complete forward over the coming years”.

He added: “When the acquisition was finalised, we set out the goal of ensuring the business would continue to be run by Complete’s talented team and we’re so pleased to have achieved this goal. The new team provides both the depth and experience needed to take Complete to new heights.”