Pepco Group, the discount retail group that owns the PEPCO and Dealz brands in Europe and Poundland in the UK, has announced the appointment of Trevor Masters as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) to support its growth plans.
Masters joined the business as Managing Director of the PEPCO chain in November 2019, driving the expansion of the brand from about 1,800 stores in 11 countries to more than 2,300 in 15 now, following recent entries in Italy, Serbia, Spain, and Austria.
Before joining the Pepco Group, he spent more than 30 years at Tesco. This included him being CEO of Tesco International, where he was accountable for all its overseas operations. He was also Tesco’s CEO of Central Europe and Turkey.
Masters will start in his new role on 1 January 2022, providing strategic oversight to the group’s Poundland and Dealz brands, and its vertically integrated sourcing operation, PGS. He will continue to be based in Poland and retain his current responsibilities as MD of PEPCO.
The group stated that the organisational change and simpler operating model will enable the group to accelerate its growth plans and facilitate improved efficiencies across PEPCO, Poundland, Dealz and PGS units.
Masters’ appointment was announced alongside the news that Sean Cardinaal, Divisional Managing Director of Poundland, Dealz and PGS, hads decided to leave the business.
“As we look to the many strategic opportunities ahead, I am confident the organisational changes we have announced today will provide a strong leadership platform for the next chapter in our growth story,” said Andy Bond, CEO of Pepco Group.
“Trevor has done a fantastic job since he joined. He has not only overseen PEPCO’s continued expansion, including into new markets in western Europe, but he has also helped to ensure the brand emerged stronger from the pandemic.”
He added: “On behalf of everyone at Pepco Group, I would like to thank Sean for his huge contribution to Pepco Group. We wish him the very best for the future.”
Meanwhile, Masters said: “With a broader role, I look forward to working with the teams on growing our businesses, as part of our ambition to become Europe’s pre-eminent variety discount retailer.”
Pepco Group, including the PEPCO, Poundland and Dealz brands, now trades in 17 countries with more than 3,400 stores.
