Yorkshire based furniture manufacturer and retailer, HSL, has announced that its CEO, Guy Critchlow, has now left the business for pastures new. Since joining the business in 2016, Critchlow has worked tirelessly to lead the board and the whole HSL family as a unified and dynamic team, and his unwavering leadership during the covid pandemic in particular was invaluable.
Critchlow’s commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience at every touchpoint can be evidenced across the organisation. Developments during his tenure have earned HSL record levels of sales, industry leading ratings on Trustpilot, and numerous awards including the Queen’s Award for Innovation.
In addition, Critchlow’s passion for the environment drove HSL’s journey to Carbon Neutral certification, the first crucial step in their ambition to achieve Net Zero, making a pledge to decrease the business’s impact on the environment by reducing its carbon footprint and becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2025. Before exiting the business, it was announced that HSL successfully reached this milestone three years ahead of target, something that he is “immensely proud of.”
In late January, HSL appointed Venessa Hodgson as managing director designate. The board is delighted to announce this promotion, and is extremely proud to recognise Venessa as the first female head of the business.
Hodgson joined the HSL family back in July 2014 and has been an instrumental part of the business’s development to date in her previous role as marketing and pPeople director. During that time, she has expertly led the modernising of the HSL brand to reflect its unique offering to customers. Venessa has also always championed the wellbeing of HSL colleagues and remains absolutely committed to delivering an exceptional workplace experience with opportunities for all.
William and Debra Burrows, owners of HSL, commented: “The business is forever grateful for Guy’s outstanding contribution, and we wish him well in his future ventures. But as this era with Guy comes to an end, we are really excited to see Venessa undertake her new position, driving the business forward as the first female at the head of the business.”
