Cosy makes treble appointment as it prepares to mark 10th year

Ethical educational supplies firm Cosy Direct has made a treble appointment to its board as it looks forward to celebrating a decade in business.

The firm, which supplies its products to primary schools and nurseries, has appointed David Hook as its chief operating officer, Jackie Raven as buying director and Stuart Morgan as e-commerce director.

David will be in charge of the company’s distribution unit, while Jackie will take control of Cosy’s buying team and supply base. Stuart is given an open platform to fuel the rapid digitisation of Cosy.

David and Jackie have previously worked with Cosy chairman Peter Ellse and managing director Nick Walker.

Peter said: “David, Nick and I worked together more than 10 years ago and transformed a humble £2 million company into a resilient £40 million global business.

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“I’m delighted they have left very well-respected cushioned jobs for our deeper team adventure here.”

Cosy recently moved from its Derby headquarters to a new 45,000 sq ft building near Tutbury, on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border.

Nick said: “Jackie is the number one buyer in our sector, Stuart is a leading e-commerce specialist and both are a real steal for the Cosy team.

“These scale investments to the board, alongside our building and new systems, gives us a platform to scale Cosy yet again as we aim to initially double the turnover and expand to 50 countries.”

Cosy Direct, which was set up in 2011 by Peter and his wife Amanda, employs more than 80 people last year reported an £8 million turnover.

Supplying schools, councils and nurseries across the UK with thousands of inventions, including craft, art and upcycled resources, as well reading shelters and story chairs, Cosy has benefited from an increase in the number of children playing outside in the fresh air since the coronavirus restrictions were put in place last year.

It has quickly built an export business to 15 countries and will celebrate its 10th year in business in June.

David said: “Cosy is one of the UK’s most exciting prospects when it comes to the educational resources industry.

“Their deeply held community-minded ethos – they support a feeding programme for 300 young families in Kenya, are sponsoring the education section of the Derby Book Festival, the Derby Ram Trail and are heavily involved in Derby Kids Camp – is uniquely appealing.

“It’s like being home with friends for me and I look forward to creating the excitement once again.”