Peters, a UK-based specialist supplier of books and furniture to schools and libraries, has appointed Claire Bowles and Richard Butler to newly created co-CEO roles. Butler has held various roles across the business during his 25 years at Peters, working as operations manager before becoming commercial director in 2020. In his new role, he will oversee the operational and financial functions of the business and take responsibility for contracts with public libraries. He will continue to lead Peters’ investment in modernising its IT and systems platform.
Bowles joined Peters as strategic marketing manager in 2014, before becoming head of sales and marketing and then taking on the role of sales and marketing director in 2020. She works closely with partners and agencies such as the National Literacy Trust, The Reading Agency and others, as well as overseeing the buying team and its links with the publishing industry. She will also take responsibility for sales to school customers and the company’s furniture supply and library design divisions.
The appointments were brought forward from their planned timing of mid-2025 following the sudden death of former managing director, Ray Dyer, in October 2024.
In memory of Ray, and with the support of his family, Peters will be creating a new primary school library in the area in which he lived in 2025.
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