Hornby on track with new Chief Executive

13th Feb 2014 08:06

Model railway and Scalextric slot car maker Hornby has appointed a new Chief Executive.The company said Richard Ames would take over the role in April, when Roger Canham, who is leading Hornby as Executive Chairman, will resume his Non-Executive Chairman's role.Ames's most recent role was as a main Board Director at British bookmaker Ladbrokes, where latterly he was Managing Director of its Product Division.He joined Ladbrokes in 2005 and ran its UK & Ireland retail operations where he managed a retail turnaround strategy. He has also worked for electrical retailer Dixons, supermarket group Asda Wal-Mart and Philips Consumer Electronics.Ames will have to tackle problems with supplies from China, where the company has been trying to increase the number of suppliers it uses to reduce dependence on any one company.It warned on sales and profits last month after facing delays in switching to new Chinese suppliers, which left it with a lack of stock over the crucial Christmas period.Ames said: "I am confident Hornby has an excellent platform from which it can build the scale and reach of its business and that the future for the group and our shareholders is very good."PW