CO Home Improvements appoints new managing director

CO Home Improvements has appointed experienced business leader Sarah Atkins as its new managing director, as the company enters the second year of an ambitious four-year growth plan.

Sarah joined the business last month, taking responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of CO Home Improvements and its seven trading brands.

Headquartered in Leyland, CO Home Improvements is one company operating under seven established home improvement brands. Six brands formed the foundations of CO Home Improvements, with the subsequent addition of Cumberland Windows further strengthening the company’s presence, particularly across Cumbria and West Cumbria.

The company is now in year two of a four-year growth strategy which aims to increase revenue from £30m to £50m.

Parent company Conservatory Outlet Group has taken the decision to appoint a dedicated managing director due to the growing scale of the business. Previously, Greg Kane, chief executive of Conservatory Outlet Group, combined leadership of CO Home Improvements with his responsibilities across the wider group.

Greg will remain closely involved with CO Home Improvements, while increasing his focus on his wider responsibilities with Conservatory Outlet Group. 

Most recently, Sarah was managing director of Dulux Decorator Centre, part of global organisation AkzoNobel. Having joined the business in 2016, she progressed through a series of senior marketing, commercial and operational roles before becoming managing director.

Her career spans retail, wholesale, leisure and financial services, with experience in building strong brands, developing teams, improving customer experiences and delivering sustainable commercial growth.

Sarah said: “I’m genuinely excited to have joined CO Home Improvements and to be getting to know the team, our customers and our wider network. From my first conversations, it was clear there’s a strong culture, great people and a real passion for customers at the heart of the business.

"CO Home Improvements has built a fantastic platform for future growth, and I’m looking forward to listening, learning and working with the team to build on everything that’s already been achieved and help take the business forward.

“There is a real opportunity to build on the strength of the individual brands while bringing the scale and resources of CO Home Improvements together. I’m excited about getting to know the teams across the business, understanding what makes each of the brands special and working together to deliver the next stage of growth.”

Greg Kane said: “CO Home Improvements has come a long way since we brought the businesses together, and we have some very ambitious plans for the future. As the business continues to grow, the time is right to have a dedicated managing director focused on COHI and its future. Sarah stood out throughout the selection process.

"Her experience, commercial understanding and approach to people make her a great fit for the business. I’m looking forward to working with her as she takes CO Home Improvements forward, while I continue to support the business and focus more of my time on my responsibilities across Conservatory Outlet Group.”