Value retailer B&M Bargains has appointed former Asda property boss Karen Hubbard as its new chief operating officer to lead expansion.

B&M Bargains

B&M Bargains chief executive Simon Arora told Retail Week Hubbard has been appointed to lead the retailer’s aggressive expansion both in the UK and overseas. Hubbard joined earlier this month.

Arora added: “She’s a very experienced retailer.”

B&M Bargains was valued at £2.7bn when it floated in June.

The retailer has about 400 shops and plans to have 900 in the UK. It is also advancing internationally, acquiring German discounter Jawoll in March. Arora said earlier this year he wanted B&M Bargains to be the “Dollar General of Europe”. Dollar General has 11,000 stores in the US.

Hubbard joined Asda in 2009 and led the roll out of the grocer’s small supermarket format in former Netto stores.

Before Asda Hubbard worked at BP as its convenience director.