LANCASHIRE: Joe Devitt, formerly Crown Paints' retail director, has moved to the newly-created position of group commercial director.

Mr Devitt will assume additional, broader responsibilities for formulating and implementing commercial strategy across the Lancashire-based group and will focus on top-line growth and margin generation for the business, which manufactures and markets high profile paint and woodcare brands.

Since 1989, Mr Devitt has held successively senior sales and marketing roles within the company, gaining understanding of both the trade and consumer sectors of the market.

His new directorship marks a further strengthening of the Crown Paints board which, in the past 12 months has seen the appointment of four new directors from within and outside the business.