Biba names two area managers

Biba has appointed two area managers charged with raising membership and schemes revenue.

Sue Dimmock, a former Biba regional executive, will cover the central area of the UK, and Nicola Maguire has joined from AXA to cover the south.  

Chris Knott, Biba’s commercial manager, will cover the north.

The area managers are responsible for increasing member engagement and numbers, while also growing schemes revenue that Biba says is essential to keeping membership fees down.

The appointments replace six regional executive roles who were made redundant last year after the trade body concluded members’ needs would be better served by a stronger focus on commercial income. Five of the regional executive roles were part time.

In addition to these new full-time jobs, Biba appointed Andy Thornley to the new role of corporate affairs manager in December and named Chris Knott commercial manager in September.

Chief executive Steve White said: “We are completely committed to the future of our regional structure, committees and the valuable contribution that they make. These appointments, along with the creation of an advisory board role for regional chairmen, demonstrates how important the regions are to us.”

Knott added: “We are very pleased to have the new team in place and are looking forward to getting out in the regions, meeting members and delivering our commitment to develop broader engagement with members.”