Travis Perkins has announced its creation of a new operating structure for the Group’s specialist merchants businesses.

The businesses will be led by Catherine Gibson in the newly created role of Specialist Merchants Managing Director, reporting to the Group CEO as part of the Group’s leadership team. Gibson will oversee new and dedicated leadership teams in the Group’s specialist merchant businesses, BSS, CCF, Keyline and TF Solutions, to create more entrepreneurial, customer-centric businesses.

Gibson was previously Managing Director of the Group’s CCF and Keyline businesses, having initially joined the Group’s Travis Perkins General Merchant business from Aggregate Industries in 2015. She started in senior operational roles, rising to become Managing Director for Travis Perkins Hire in 2018, before being appointed Managing Director for CCF in 2020, and further bolstering her experience by extending her leadership role to include both Keyline and Staircraft in 2024.

Geoff Drabble, Chair of Travis Perkins plc, said: “Catherine has extensive experience in the merchanting sector, and through her leadership and trade association engagement she has been instrumental in driving performance, industry and plant safety improvements to award-winning standards.

"I am delighted she has accepted this new role and confident her appointment and our new structure will make our businesses more responsive and bring us closer to our customers.

“Our specialist merchants all have strong market positions, capable people and the best locations in the industry, but specialist markets require specialist teams that are fully focused on serving them, and whilst we have cross selling opportunities, our customers will be better served with these appointments.”

Gibson added: “I am really excited about the prospect of working with the specialist merchant businesses to help strengthen their performance. These businesses already enjoy strong relationships with customers and suppliers, reflecting the expertise and passion of our colleagues.

"While there will be opportunities to share resources, these businesses need to be run separately to take into account their different requirements. We look to create flexible, responsive and entrepreneurial local businesses that can optimise services for all our customers.

“Following a rigorous search and interview process, I am pleased that we have appointed four really strong Managing Directors. I am particularly delighted that we are appointing three of them from our own talent pipeline, and I very much look forward to working with all of them.”

Gibson will be supported by the following new Managing Director appointments:

  • Chris Knight has been promoted from CCF Regional Director to become Managing Director, CCF. Having joined the business as a management trainee in 2007, he has held numerous senior operational and management roles before rising to CCF Regional Director in 2021. 
  • Josie Crowe, Travis Perkins General Merchant Regional Managing Director, and Managing Director of Benchmarx, is promoted to Managing Director, BSS. She joined the Group in 2004 and has held numerous senior operational and leadership roles in BSS and Travis Perkins since. 
  • Huw Jenkins will become Managing Director for Keyline on 1 September. He joins from CEVA Logistics, where he was Managing Director, Contract Logistics UKI and Nordics. He also has extensive experience from senior roles at DHL and Wincanton in running the Ministry of Defence’s supply chain.
  • James Boswell was promoted from BSS Regional Director to Managing Director, TF Solutions, in January 2025 following nearly a decade with the Group. During that time he has held a number of senior operational and management roles in TF Solutions, Benchmarx and BSS.