Gavin Slark joins plumbers and builders merchant from BSS

Plumbers and builders merchants Grafton Group has appointed Gavin Slark as group chief executive officer.

Slark joins the group after departing from BSS in December after its takeover by Grafton-rival Travis Perkins.

He succeeds Michael Chadwick in managing the group, who will continue as non-executive chairman after Slark’s appointment on July 1st.

The Dublin-based merchant, which generates most of its revenue in the UK, is expected to post improved turnover and profits for 2010 after a difficult couple of years.

Group turnover fell from a peak of €3.2bn in 2007 to €1.98bn in 2009 and profits also fell from €205m to €58m in 2008 and then to €13.4m in 2009.