DERBYSHIRE: Executive chairman Allan Durning has left the National Buying Group at a time when the organisation is undergoing major changes in order to ensure it faces the future in a stronger position within the marketplace.
NBG recently finalised its restructuring and an executive board has been created. It is made up of nine members who have been elected by fellow partners. An independent non-executive chairman is being sought to head the board.
The new Trading Board will be tasked with strategy – making sure that NBG keeps on growing. It is made up of the chairmen of the category management teams – those responsible for direct negotiations. "As well as chairing the Trading Board, the chief executive's role will be to manage the organisation's three administrative employees," said NBG director, Tim Rowbottom, joint managing director of Collier & Catchpole.
"Allan has done sterling work," said Mr Rowbottom. "He moved us all along, made us an LLP and raised our profile within the industry."
NBG has evolved as a business, Mr Rowbottom pointed out. "Each of the board members has taken on new roles." Allan Bartlett of Keith Building Supplies will be handling the group's marketing activities.
We have had three board meetings and I am confident that we will gel well as a group of members. We all have different views but we are united by our fundamental passion for NBG and driving it forward. I think this new structure will allow us to do that.
"We're a buying group and that is what we must focus on. We also have to push the case for independent merchants and make sure we have a healthy marketplace in which to work," Mr Rowbottom said.
