Card Factory plc announced the appointment of Karen Hubbard to the Board as CEO Designate, with effect from February 22, 2016. Since 2014 Karen has served as Chief Operating Officer of B&M European Value Retail S.A., where she has been accountable for retail operations, distribution & logistics, supply chain, IT, HR, marketing and store development. Karen will succeed Richard Hayes as CEO of the company in mid-April.

Richard has been with the Group since 2003, serving as Managing Director and CEO since 2008. He recently made the Board aware of his wish to step down once a suitable successor had been identified. He will retire from the Board and leave the Group at the end of June 2016, having ensured a smooth handover over a four-month period.