Home lifestyle store Bell of Northampton has appointed Richard Kingston to its board of directors.

He joined Bell’s flagship 25,000 sqft showroom on Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton, 11 years ago as online manager.

In May 2019, he was promoted to manager of e-commerce and fires and stoves before moving up to departmental director of fires, stoves and outdoor living across the company – both online and in store – on December 1,  2021.

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Kingston spearheaded the creation of its e-commerce department, with its website going live in the summer of 2014, and taking its first online order on June 9, 2014.

Three years on, he has now joined the board of directors which sees him maintain his day-to-day responsibilities while contributing to a number of upcoming strategic projects to help drive growth and foster innovation for the business.

“Being made a member of the board means everything to me,” explained Kingston.

“It represents one of the proudest milestones in my career, signifying the trust and confidence placed in my abilities, experience and vision by my peers and the organisation.

“This role is not just a recognition of my professional journey to date, but also an incredible opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the strategic direction and success of Bell.

“Leading by example has always been at the heart of my approach.

“I am deeply passionate about delivering a unique, memorable customer experience while ensuring that our independent business stands out in a competitive market.

“Collaboration, thoughtfulness, and the impact of thoughtful leadership are all things that I value.

“Helping shape the future of Bell, with our customers at its core, is a mission I genuinely believe in and will dedicate myself to achieving.”

Commenting on the move, managing director at Bell of Northampton Lee Ferris said: “Richard is a fantastic addition to the Board.

“His keenness to collaborate more closely with the other directors in the business to build on our 125-year legacy of success is clear to see.

“With Richard’s knowledge of the business and excellent leadership, we will continue to focus on introducing new products and categories across the business, enhancing in-store displays, and creating more events and experiences that resonate with our customers.”