True has appointed Ralph Tucker as CEO of The Cotswold Company to work alongside the management team in driving the next stage of growth of the business. The Cotswold Company, a leading online furniture retailer and a True portfolio company, specialises in oak, pine and painted furniture and also sells through its showrooms in Stow-on-the-Wold, Chelmsford, Norwich, Godalming and Harrogate.
Ralph has worked at NBrown, the online retailer focusing on homewares, clothing and footwear for over five years. As the Chief Product and Trading Officer he has been responsible for driving profit growth through leading and delivering strategic initiatives, including digital and AI.
True acquired The Cotswold Company in 2016 and since then the business has grown by over 50%, and now generates more than £50m in revenue, with plans to double in size over the coming years.
Ralph Tucker: “The Cotswold Company has experienced tremendous growth under the leadership of its founder and CEO, Kevin Johnson, and its ambitions over the coming years make it a hugely exciting business to be a part of. The opportunities to accelerate the already impressive growth provides the firm with the potential to dominate the online furniture category. I am delighted to be part of this business and I look forward to working closely with Kevin and the rest of the management team to continue to build the brand and bring its proposition to even more customers.”
Kevin Johnson, co-founder, will be stepping down as CEO of the business after 19 years and will remain actively involved in the company as a director on the board.
Kevin Johnson: “After 19 years building, growing and running The Cotswold Company, the business is now entering a new and exciting stage of growth and I am delighted to be bringing Ralph on board to drive the business forward. His passion for retail and vast experience in digital marketing for a range of larger companies from homeware to fashion, is the perfect fit for our future plans and I look forward to working alongside him and the senior management team as we enter the next stage.”
Paul Cocker, Co-Founder of True, and a board member for the Cotswold Company: “The Cotswold Company continues to enjoy strong growth, which once again reinforces the advantages of its operating model. Ralph’s appointment comes at a time when the business is positioned for ongoing digital growth as a direct-to-consumer furniture retailer and we are all delighted to be beginning 2020 on such a strong footing.”