GNG has named Richard Gretton as commercial director at GNG Group, as the West Yorkshire, England, business continues to drive the growth of its consumer, contract and medical mattress division.
With over 25 years of sales experience, Gretton joins GNG from Hypnos Beds where he spent almost six years as global retail sales director. Previously, he served as commercial director at Castelan Group, where he launched new strategic services across the furniture, leisure and hotel markets.
A strong commercial and operational professional, Gretton has expertise in many areas, including marketing management, negotiation, business planning, market planning and operations management.
In his new role with GNG, he will lead the sales operation for the expanding mattress division, which includes its Komfi vacuum-packed mattress brand featuring recycled Ecofoam, and luxury Sonlevo mattresses with TrueGel grid system technology.
“With a 40-year manufacturing heritage, GNG has become one of the leading names in British-made mattresses,” Gretton said. “Known for quality, service and product innovation, it’s a fast-growing business where I believe I can make a real difference. While the company has made impressive progress in recent years, there are still new markets to be explored, and I am looking forward to using my skills to bring GNG’s outstanding products to a wider audience.”
With 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facilities in Normanton, West Yorkshire, which opened just last year, GNG has grown into one of the leaders in British mattress manufacturing, supplying retailers and hospitality providers across the U.K. as well as being an approved supplier to the NHS.
“With his exceptional track record of success within the industry, Richard will play a pivotal role in spearheading the further growth of our mattress division,” said GNG Group Managing Director Darren Potterton. “Having increased capacity by over 300% with the opening of our Normanton facilities last summer, we have ambitious expansion plans to continue to build our customer base.
“Richard’s appointment comes at a crucial time as we embark on the next chapter of planned growth in the U.K.,” Potterton continued. “His strategic vision and business acumen, together with his industry insights and ability to forge strong relationships, will be instrumental in positioning our company to capitalize on emerging opportunities and further enhance our capabilities.”
Headquartered in Normanton, GNG Group was established in 1987 and now employs more than 130 people across the group. It has become an international brand leader and supplier of foam-based products, primarily serving the medical, consumer and sports sectors.
