Staff at BWG have been told that Willie O'Byrne is to be appointed managing director of the convenience good operator, according to a report in 'Retail Intelligence'.

O'Byrne is head of the group's Mace division – it also owns the Spar franchise – and he will replace Peter Kealy, who is stepping down. He will take on the new job on 1 December, the report said.

O'Byrne ran the group's wholesale operation for some years. He then left and worked at Transaer and O2 before returning to BWG to integrate the €40m Mangans cash and carry business into the group. Kealy will remain involved with BWG in an advisory capacity.

BWG chief executive Leo Crawford told the specialist newsletter that O'Byrne's appointment was "significant", and would "strengthen the BWG management team".