Beales boss moving on

3:44pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Steven Smith

Beales' outgoing CEO Tony Brown Beales' outgoing CEO Tony Brown

BEALES boss Tony Brown is to leave the chain next month, it has been announced.

Mr Brown, who joined the department store firm in 2008, has overseen its expansion from 11 to 33 locations, as well as navigating it through the worst recession seen on the high street.

The expansion included the acquisition of 19 stores from the Anglia Regional Co-operative Society in May 2011 It is believed, but not confirmed, that he will be Edinburgh Woollen Mill-owned Peacocks’ next MD.

Mr Brown, who leaves Beales on February 8, has also been involved with the town centre Business Improvement District as chairman.

He told the Daily Echo yesterday that highlights of his time included being a part of the town’s retail scene and overseeing Beales’ expansion.

“We’ve just had one of our most profitable Christmases and the Bournemouth store in particular had its best Christmas in years,” he said.

“There are lots of positive messages coming out of Beales.”

Mr Brown was retail director of BHS for more than seven years before joining Beales and he has also worked as operations director at Somerfield.

He has served as chairman of Dorset Employment and Skills Board.

Mr Brown added: “I joined in 2008, so it’s four-and-a-half years. The business has changed from 11 to 33 stores in that time.

“I’m sad to be leaving Bournemouth as I’m a local person and it’s proven to be a fabulous town.

“My extracurricular activities as chairman of the BID I have thoroughly enjoyed. We achieved a lot at Christmas. Five years is about right as a CEO. Every business needs new thinking from time to time and an opportunity has presented itself to me.

“The highlights have been the growth of the business, riding out one of the worst retail recessions known to man, where many bigger businesses have fallen by the wayside over the years, and introducing a loyalty scheme for Beales has also been a big plus.

“Having the opportunity to be part of the town with the BID has also been a highlight.”

Beales’ chief financial officer, Michael Hitchcock, will replace Mr Brown, who plans to continue living in Dorset.

“I’m leaving it in very safe hands. The business is well set up to provide profitability in the future,” said Mr Brown.

Comments(24)

Old Colonial says...
4:03pm Wed 23 Jan 13

"Beales chief financial officer, Michael Hitchcock, will replace Mr Brown."

That's it; bring in the bean-counters. Goodbye Beales?

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BmthNewshound says...
4:37pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Rats leaving sinking ship comes to mind.
.

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watson57 says...
6:10pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I work at Beales, its a very sad day he has made sure we are still here when lots and lots of retailers have gone bust,its nasty to call anyone names , newshound !!! you try running a business

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bmthlad69 says...
6:41pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Yep he is jumping ship. You have to think there must be a reason he is leaving.
My personal opinion is that he knows Beales is struggling and is getting out whilst Beales still exists.
Who would want to employ a MD of a failed business?

I really hope this is not the case as Beales have been around for ages but its not looking good...

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rebelred says...
7:18pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Hopefully not desserting a sinking ship. Not heard anything positive about Beales in a long time. Seems to have over expanded to quickly and now sells lower quality goods and the loss of there credit card. Would have thought that the local stores now employ alot less staff than when Mr Brown took over. Seems to have gone the same way as House of Fraser and let in alot of concessions but gone away from their own quality that they were renowned for.

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WannabePM says...
7:22pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Let's face it, Beales is very over-priced and everything they sell is cheaper on t'web. Department stores (with the exception of the London based tourist-fleecers) I'm afraid are a thing of the past and it's inevitable they'll go the same way as HMV, Jessops, etc. Can't wait for the Sale though.......

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WannabePM says...
7:22pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Let's face it, Beales is very over-priced and everything they sell is cheaper on t'web. Department stores (with the exception of the London based tourist-fleecers) I'm afraid are a thing of the past and it's inevitable they'll go the same way as HMV, Jessops, etc. Can't wait for the Sale though.......

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H2o-hara says...
7:33pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I tried last month to purchase perfume but didn't succeed because the stores ambient music was too loud . The girl serving couldn't hear me and I could't hear her when trying to speak . Result was no sale .

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bmthlad69 says...
7:38pm Wed 23 Jan 13

rebelred wrote:
Hopefully not desserting a sinking ship. Not heard anything positive about Beales in a long time. Seems to have over expanded to quickly and now sells lower quality goods and the loss of there credit card. Would have thought that the local stores now employ alot less staff than when Mr Brown took over. Seems to have gone the same way as House of Fraser and let in alot of concessions but gone away from their own quality that they were renowned for.
I was amazed to hear that they got rid of the store card. Surely that was a nice income for Beales on interest etc..

Why would he decide to get rid of it? Maybe Beales couldn't afford to pay for the customers product and wait for the payment - not a good sign tbh

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RageAgainstTheMachine says...
8:35pm Wed 23 Jan 13

WannabePM wrote:
Let's face it, Beales is very over-priced and everything they sell is cheaper on t'web. Department stores (with the exception of the London based tourist-fleecers) I'm afraid are a thing of the past and it's inevitable they'll go the same way as HMV, Jessops, etc. Can't wait for the Sale though.......
I went passed the Poole store a couple of days ago and it looked so over packed with stock it looked like a jumble sale. I specifically decided not to go in as it looked to claustrophobic and all over the place for my liking

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Cosmic Crusader says...
8:41pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I think there is an "up to 70%" chance that Beales will leave Poole in the coming year!

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Roband65 says...
8:59pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Definately a sinking ship the shops are falling apart behind the scenes !

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BIGTONE says...
9:47pm Wed 23 Jan 13

The writing is on the wall.

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Yankee1 says...
9:54pm Wed 23 Jan 13

When Bain Capital or Deloitte Touche are called in, you will know it is the end.

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bosco1 says...
10:12pm Wed 23 Jan 13

These top Job Managing Directors seem to move from one firm to another.There stay seems to be a few years.! Are they running away before the ship sinks so maybe run with a golden handshake.? To join a firm in 2008 with jobs hard to find, why leave in 2013.?!! I thought the days of walking out of one job into another was a thing of the past!!!

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cheeriedriteup says...
10:41pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Yankee1 wrote:
When Bain Capital or Deloitte Touche are called in, you will know it is the end.
www.allcleanwaste.co
.uk
For stock clearance.

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MrPitiful says...
11:04pm Wed 23 Jan 13

If they do go under - and let's hope they don't at least for the sake of those with jobs there - I reckon the building on Old Xchurch Rd would make a great nightclub venue....

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nosuchluck54 says...
6:49am Thu 24 Jan 13

If the truth was known he has probably had a gut full of Bournemouth and its residents that seem locked in a time warp

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Tom 'Boscombe' Jones says...
9:31am Thu 24 Jan 13

The town centre and coastal BID's are going to be worth scrutinizing especially as the chairman is off.

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B'mth 56 says...
9:54am Thu 24 Jan 13

Lets get this right! Beale PLC announced on Tuesday that Tony Brown had tendered his resignation - FACT. The share price on 24th Jan 2008 was 45p and 5 years later on 24th Jan 2013 it is 17p - FACT. As various comments have already concluded he has changed this prestigeous department store that was reknowned for quality and service to an ordinary below par shop. The windows are constantly littered with discount sale posters and the playing of loud music instore doesn't wet the appetite of many shoppers who wish to browse before making a purchase. Resigned before he was pushed? I think so.

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goodrd5 says...
10:39am Thu 24 Jan 13

thank God this rat is leaving. He keeps harping on about his expansion of the company, but says little about the fact that the Co-op paid Beales big money to take 18-20 stores off their hands. Ask yourself why the Co-op would do this? He surrounded himself with Yes men, most of whom's previous employers have gone into administration or liquidation. He's reduced the workforce by nearly 50% and turned a company that sold quality goods to that which just sells overpriced pony! In his 5 years as CEO the share price has collapsed and has never paid a dividend to the shareholders.

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demonmonster says...
12:30pm Thu 24 Jan 13

The problem with Tony Brown is his attitude to the very staff that he needed to support him.
Just look at how many Store Directors have come and gone.
He wanted all the old Beales managers out and did what ever he could to get rid of them. Several of them took Beales to tribunials and won, once again costing Beales money. How would you fancy a supposed professional man swearing at you down the phone.
The new CEO is a different kettle of fish, ruthless, it wouldn't surprise if some of the stores are closed to prop the business up. He is more like an administrator than anything else.
The plug is out and it's slowly sinking. Will be interesting to see how the figures have been manipulated for the past year.

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rebelred says...
10:00pm Thu 24 Jan 13

I suppose the best time to get rid of stores/ buildings within their portfolio will be when the lease is up. In the Echos recent article, that was what they are doing with the building in Wallisdown. Anybody know when the local stores leases are due for renewal?

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watson57 says...
10:07am Fri 25 Jan 13

well goodrd5 i still work there, and if you ask me it will be a very sad day he has done so much !!! but the new one has sorted the mess left behind by the old finance director so i hope he is sucsessful

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