Card Factory hires former Clinton Cards head as CEO
Card Factory has hired former Clinton Cards head Darcy Willson-Rymer as its new chief executive.
Willson-Rymer will join the greeting cards retailer from Costcutter Supermarkets where he has been working as chief executive for the last eight years. During this time, he has been credited with steering the convenience business through a period of significant change through the development of a new operating model, the introduction of a data and insights led growth programme and a brand transformation.
Prior to this, he held the same role at Clinton Cards and was managing director for the UK and Ireland at Starbucks, operations director of KFC Great Britain, and director of operations and franchise Europe at KFC and Pizza Hut.
Willson-Rymer will take up his new position on 8 March 2021 following the expiry of his notice period. At this time, Paul Moody’s appointment as Card Factory’s executive chairman will come to an end and he will revert to his role as non-executive chairman.
Moody said: “Darcy has excellent credentials and experience to lead Card Factory through the next phase of our evolution and to continue to lead the implementation of the refreshed strategy. He has experienced successfully leading a complex, multi-site retail business in Costcutter, held senior positions in two customer service-centred global branded businesses in Starbucks and Yum, in particular, where he led a business with an operating model encompassing both owned and franchised units. Darcy brings highly relevant knowledge and experience that will hugely benefit Card Factory.”
