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Wiggle has got a new CEO following the departure of Humphrey Cobbold.
Stefan Barden (pictured), a triathlete enthusiast and Iron Man competitor, starts with Wiggle this month and boasts a leading CV in the food and leisure industries. Barden was most recently CEO of food distribution company Brakes Bros, is a former CEO of Northern Foods and H J Heinz Company in the UK & Ireland. He started his career at Unilever and was also a consultant at Mckinsey.
According to the press statement, after discussion over the summer, Humphrey Cobbold and the Board agreed that the time is now right for a transition to new leadership.
Cobbold had been in the role at Wiggle since September 2009 and was head of the Portsmouth-based online retailer during some key moments – including the Bridgepoint acquisition at the end of 2011. Cobbold was also Wiggle boss for its move into team sponsorship with the Wiggle Honda pro team, which promised ‘real wages for women riders’. The period saw rapid sales growth from circa £33m to over £140 million.
Cobbold said: “I have had the privilege to work with a truly fabulous group of colleagues and business partners over the last four years. The time is now right for someone else to lead the peloton and take Wiggle forward to future success.”
Wiggle chairman Andy Bond added: “We’re very pleased to welcome a new leader of the company whose experience includes many senior roles in industries with a strong customer service ethic. Stefan’s international experience and leadership of large-scale businesses will be especially relevant during this next phase of our geographic expansion as the business invests in the build-out of its operations as well as in its infrastructure and customer experience.
“The Board joins me in thanking Humphrey for four years of great leadership and wishes him every success with his future plans.”
Wiggle announced a 20.8 per cent increase in turnover to £140.8 million for the year ended 3 February 2013. EBITDA was £14 million.
