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Franchise Brands, an international, multi-brand franchisor focused on B2B van-based service, has promoted Peter Molloy to the newly created role of Group CEO, and to the Group’s Board, with immediate effect.
Molloy initially joined Metro Rod over 20 years ago and has been an integral part of the Franchise Brands team since it acquired Metro Rod in 2017. He was previously CEO of the Group’s Water & Waste Services division which includes Metro Rod, Metro Plumb, Willow Pumps, Filta UK and Kemac. The division provides drainage, plumbing, pump maintenance and installation and services to a wide range of commercial customers.
Having started his career as an apprentice, Molloy’s commitment, drive and passion for customer service have seen him rise through successive sales and leadership roles, making him a natural choice for Franchise Brands to appoint its first Group CEO from within the business.
Franchise Brands has grown rapidly over the past two years following the acquisitions of Filta and Pirtek, with annualised system sales now of approximately £400 million and businesses in 10 countries across the UK, North America and Europe. As Group CEO, Molloy will take a customer-centric approach to driving the implementation of the growth strategy, business performance and accelerating integration.
With responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of the Group across its four principal divisions and shared central functions, he will play a key role in accelerating the company’s growth ambitions, as it also considers a move from AIM to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Stephen Hemsley will remain Executive Chairman and focus on the strategic and corporate development of the company, including future acquisitions.
Hemsley said of Molloy’s appointment: “The Group has reached a scale where the timing is right for the appointment of a Group CEO at Board level, to separate my responsibilities and provide greater focus on the strategic and commercial development of the business to support our ambitious growth plans.
“Peter Molloy has been a key part of the Franchise Brands team since 2017 and has made an exceptional contribution in leading the significant growth of Metro Rod to become a leader in commercial drainage and in the successful formation and integration of the Water & Waste Services division.
“Peter has strong commercial acumen, and the Board is confident that he will successfully drive the implementation of our strategic priorities, which includes an increased focus on digitally-enabled integration, enabling the Group to realise its significant growth potential.”
Molloy commented: “I am honoured to be chosen as the first Group CEO. Since joining Metro Rod over 20 years ago and having worked closely with Stephen and the Franchise Brands team since 2017, I am so proud of what we have achieved together.
“We have created a strong business, yet there remains so much untapped potential. Our principal franchise brands have significant growth potential through increasing their small shares of large, fragmented markets, expanding their range of services and geographical penetration, and cross-selling to our large customer base.
“I am excited to lead the further development of the business and to realise our strategic ambitions. This will be achieved in part by accelerating the pace of integration of the Group’s businesses into ‘One Franchise Brands’ and by supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of our franchisees, who are the backbone of our business together with our dedicated Support Centre teams.”
