Zavvi MD becomes ERA Chairman

Zavvi managing director Simon Douglas has been elected chairman at the Entertainment Retailers’ Association for the next year.

The decision was made at the ERA’s Annual General Meeting, which took place in London this morning.

Douglas – who last year led the buy-out of the Virgin Megastores chain to create the 125-store Zavvi Entertainment Group – takes over the position from QuirksOnline boss Paul Quirk.

Ben Drury, managing director of 7digital, will continue for a second year as Deputy Chairman.

Graham Lambdon of EUK remains treasurer.

There are more entertainment products on the market than ever before, said Douglas, and consumer demand for entertainment products is greater than ever before.

This means that the need for trusted intermediaries who sit between the producers of entertainment and those who want to buy it is greater than ever.

In a world of near infinite choice retailers are the recommenders and navigators who help consumers make sense of what’s out there.

The key to our future lies in our ability to communicate product to the consumer and in turn to represent the consumer back to music, film and games companies.”

Play.com MD Stuart Rowe and GAME Group buyer Alex Vines were elected to the ERA council, along with Richard Wheeler from Orange. Andrew Powell, (Asda), Rob Salter (Tesco) and Alan Hunt (Woolworths) were all re-elected.