FRANK Blin, head of accountancy firm Pricewaterhouse- Coopers in Scotland, has been brought on to the board of the holding company of entrepreneur David Moulsdale's Optical Express eyecare chain.
Mr Blin, who last November announced plans to retire from PwC in June, said he would be supporting Mr Moulsdale and the rest of the board of DCM (Optical Holdings) in dealing "with some short-term trading challenges but, more importantly, the strategic development of the business".
The prominent accountant's appointment, which took effect last month, is revealed in a filing by Scottish-headquartered DCM (Optical Holdings) with Companies House.
In spite of challenging trading conditions on the high street, at a time when consumer confidence is low, Mr Moulsdale yesterday highlighted his "ambitious strategic growth plans, both domestically and internationally".
Asked about his appointment to Optical Express, which has operations in Germany and the Netherlands as well as in the UK, Mr Blin replied: "I said I would start picking up a number of appointments and Optical has got some interesting expansion plans and oppor-tunities, as well as, yes, some tough retail trading conditions just now, and the board and David asked me to join the company with a view to, if you like, developing both their growth plans and international strategy, as well as aspects of some reorganisation in the business."
He added: "That is what I am there to do. It is just a typical non-executive director appointment with a view to perhaps some additional support."
On the question of whether he would increase his time commitment to Optical Express after he left PwC, Mr Blin replied: "We will see."
Mr Blin said that Royal Bank of Scotland, banker to DCM (Optical Holdings), was "aware of the appointment and supportive of the appointment" but emphasised he had been brought in by the eyecare company.
He added: "There is not too many £200 million turnover businesses based in Scotland just now which are looking at plans to continue to grow and develop their horizons, in terms of a private company."
Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, former Scottish First Minister, became a non-executive director of DCM (Optical Holdings) last summer, another filing with Companies House shows.
In a statement issued through a spokesman, Mr Moulsdale, chairman and majority shareholder of DCM (Optical Holdings), said: "I'm delighted to bring both Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale and Frank Blin into the business as non-executive directors. Their complementary skill sets will assist us in driving forward ambitious strategic growth plans both domestically and internationally.
"Jack, I know, will support us well in opening up new markets, in our philanthropic endeavours, and of course in our interface with Government on health matters. Frank's insight and knowledge of acquisition and growth as a leading member of the PwC team will sit well with our ambitious plans for continuing to aggressively build our businesses."
He highlighted DCM's recruitment of about 100 more staff, for its customer service department and for 24 new consultation sites being opened around the UK, and his firm's presence in the laser eye surgery market.
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