The Original Factory Shop has raided the Co-operative and Thorntons for its new chief financial officer and brand and customer director.

The value retailer has appointed Martyn Wates as its chief financial officer. Wates joins from the Co-operative Group where he was chief executive, specialist business and deputy group chief executive. Before this Wates, who joins Original Factory Shop this month succeeding Gareth Hutchinson, held various other senior financial roles within the Co-op Group.

Hannah Legg joins Original Factory Shop in the newly created role of brand and customer director. Legg joins from Thorntons where she spent 10 years and was latterly Brand and Customer Marketing Director.

The Original Factory Shop chief executive Tony Page said:  “This is a transformational year for The Original Factory Shop and it is a real pleasure to be welcoming two new members with such impressive track records in the retail sector. With total sales growing in excess of 10%, coupled with the opening of four new stores this financial year and a further 10 expected by the end of the year alone, this is a deeply exciting period of growth for the company.”

“We would also like to thank Gareth Hutchinson for his fantastic commitment to the company over the past 25 years.”