George Dymond, Nobia’s executive vice president and head of region for Magnet in the UK has announced he will be stepping down from the role, with commercial & customer director Sophie Rose named as his successor.
Nobia is the parent company of Magnet, where Dymond took up the role of director in 2023. He was announced as Nobia/Magnet’s head of region for the UK in March 2024, and officially started in the role in July of that year.
During his tenure, the national retailer has seen something of a turnaround in its business, with the business’ Q1 and Q2 profits seeing a SEK38m (£3m) and SEK 190m (£15.1m) year-on-year increase, respectively.
Speaking exclusively to kbbreview earlier this year, Dymond discussed his turnaround strategy for the business, which has been underpinned by a considered move to an “asset light” retail store model using smaller high-street stores. Magnet has also launched its first franchise store model, with Dymond promising more franchises will be opening this year.
Meanwhile, Sophie Rose joined Magnet almost two years ago, first as director of company experience before being promoted to commercial & customer director in August 2024.
Since joining the company, Magnet says Rose has been a key member of its leadership team, and brings extensive retail experience. The retailer says she has played a key role in shaping the company’s strategy, making her perfectly placed to lead the company into its next phase.
Discussing his motivations for leaving the role, George Dymond said: “With the UK business in a strong position and our plan delivering results, now feels like the right time for me to hand over the next chapter. It’s been a privilege to lead through such a transformative period, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support of our teams and partners.
“I know the business will be in excellent hands with Sophie, who’s been instrumental in shaping our progress so far. I have every confidence she’ll lead the next phase with the same passion and customer focus that made the first year of our transformation plan such a success.”
Similarly, new Magnet head Sophie Rose commented: “Having worked closely with George and our executive team to shape our three-year plan, I’m excited to lead the business into the next chapter of its journey. The progress we’ve made in year one shows that our plan is working, and there’s real momentum behind us. I’m looking forward to building on that with our brilliant team and trusted partners alongside us, as we help even more customers bring their dream kitchens to life.”