A leading retail services firm has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of a chief commercial officer.

Newport-headquartered RMS (Retail Merchandising Services) has appointed Burton Paul to the newly created position.

The firm, which is based at Langstone Retail Park, RMS provides retail support services to some of the biggest retail brands across the UK and Ireland.

As chief commercial officer, Mr Paul will be responsible for the company’s commercial and business development strategy. His key duties will include developing the firm’s service offering, growing sales and marketing.

The appointment comes after a strong year of growth for RMS, with new retail partnerships secured and some exciting projects scheduled for 2017.

The retail services firm now has a team of more than1,000 merchandisers across the UK and Ireland and has expanded its industry-leading merchandising academy to offer accredited training in warehousing.

Mr Paul brings a wealth of experience from companies ranging from start-ups to large multi-nationals.

He has developed strategy for businesses all over the world, including working collaboratively with companies such as Nestlé, Unilever, BT and McDonald's.

Daniel O’Toole, MD of RMS, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Burton to RMS; his background is in both developing and implementing commercial strategy and he will therefore be a huge asset to us as we look to consolidate and build on our recent success.

“I am looking forward to working closely with him to ensure we remain the number one choice for retail partners looking for reliable, agile merchandising support. He will also be instrumental in rolling out our innovative new technology, which will allow our retail partners to track progress on their projects in real time at the touch of a button.”

Burton Paul said: “I’m looking forward to joining an ambitious firm that has built an enviable reputation for excellence in delivery to the retail sector. I aim to help RMS streamline its processes and continue to grow at a sustainable rate.

“The retail industry is undergoing dramatic change and it is crucial that RMS, like all players in the sector, continues to innovate to meet the challenges associated with changing consumer expectations and behaviour.

“I’m joining at a really exciting time for the business and I am looking forward to ensuring retail partners continue to receive the very highest level of service.”