A former easyHotel and Travelodge chief executive has been named as chairman of gifting company Appreciate Group.
The Merseyside-headquartered company has appointed Guy Parsons to the role to succeed Laura Carstensen.
The out-going chair will formally step down on April 1, having announced her intention to do so at the firm's AGM in September after nine years on the board.
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Mr Parsons is currently a non-executive director and the remuneration committee chair at Yorkshire Building Society, and chair at online sofa retailer, Snug.
He will be stepping down from his role at Yorkshire Building Society at its AGM in April, having been a director for nine years.
Mr Parsons said: "I am excited to be joining the team at Appreciate Group, a business with a strong customer and consumer proposition and a compelling growth opportunity.
"I look forward to supporting the board and management team to leverage the progress made to modernise the business and build on the strong foundations it has for future digital growth."
Chief executive Ian O'Doherty added: "We are delighted to announce Guy's appointment as chairman.
"He joins us at an important time for the group and brings strong board and executive experience.
"Guy's non-executive and finance-regulated background, combined with his track record of delivering digital strategies in consumer businesses, will be invaluable in the next stage of our growth strategy. I look forward to working with him.
"I would also like to again thank Laura for the contribution she has made to Appreciate Group for almost nine years, over five of which were as chairman.
"She has helped steer the business through a period of transformation as well as the unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic."
