ARRAN Aromatics has appointed a beauty trade heavy hitter to lead the perfume maker’s push for growth in international markets following a challenging few years for the firm.
Jacqui Gale, who ran Crabtree & Evelyn's business in Europe and the Middle East after cutting her teeth in sales at Estee Lauder, has been appointed chief executive of the island-based company amid a boardroom shake up.
Iain Pittman, who led the turnaround of the company after it nearly collapsed in 2009, has been appointed chairman in the wake of the departure of Alastair Kerr.
Alan Wade has become chief operating officer after a stint as acting chief executive.
Ms Gale said she felt like she was living a dream with the appointment to run the business, which was started by Iain and Janet Russell on Arran 26 years ago.
The Russells started producing toiletries in their kitchen in 1989, using pure honey and herbs from the island, where the company employs 52 people.
“I always wanted to run my own beauty business so chose to study chemistry because I knew it would give me a good insight into the production process,” said Ms Gale.
The Napier University graduate said Arran Aromatics is a beautiful brand which she would be excited to help develop around the world.
Mr Pittman said Ms Gale’s experience working with big names like Crabtree & Evelyn, Estee Lauder and Revlon would be a huge asset in helping the company to grow its overseas sales.
He said the company had made good progress since the bank-supported Business Growth Fund invested £2.8m in the firm in August 2013, in exchange for a minority stake.
The businessman thanked Mr Kerr, who previously ran Body Shop’s operations in Europe and the Middle East, for providing wise advice which helped build solid foundations for the next stage in Arran Aromatics’ story.
The signs are that it has not been sailing since BGF invested in the business.
The most recent accounts for Arran Aromatics Limited filed at Companies House show it made a retained loss of £450,000 in the year to 28 February 2014. It made a retained loss of £195,000 in the preceding period.
But Mr Pittman has always had faith in the potential for the company to build a much bigger business on the back of brands that have won a loyal following at home and overseas.
Following the BGF investment Mr Pittman said the plan was to treble sales from £5m to £15m over the ensuing five years.
Mr Pittman has invested considerable amounts of time and energy in Arran Aromatics over the course of a long association with the business.
He took charge in February 2009, a month after HMRC lodged a petition to wind up the company in respect of £180,000 underpaid payroll taxes.
Mr Pittman led a programme to concentrate on the most profitable lines and to boost efficiency, which was accompanied by store openings. The company met all the obligations inherited when he took charge.
Ms Gale’s decision to join Arran Aromatics provides a notable vote of confidence in the potential of the firm, which has ten shops in the UK and nine concessions on the UK mainland.
It recently moved into a bigger outlet on George Street in Edinburgh city centre from a basement store.
The products are sold in 30 countries and supplied to hotels including Cameron House.
Duncan Macrae, BGF’s investment director, who sits on the Arran Aromatics board, said: “Jacqui is widely recognised and respected in the industry and brings strong international expertise that will be beneficial to the growth of the company.”
He said the fund met Ms Gale Jacqui through a mutual business contact and introduced her to Arran Aromatics.
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