Andrew Weiss, managing director of specialist tool retailer Isaac Lord, will leave the retailer in May next year.
His decision to exit the business comes a year after the Lord family, who originally appointed Mr Weiss, sold the business to private investors. Mr Weiss has spent the past 12 months ensuring a seamless transition period, fully integrating the new owners into the business.

Mr Weiss, president of BHETA until June this year, joined Isaac Lord seven years ago, tasked with developing the brand and strengthening profits. Just a year later, the business was awarded Britain's Best Tool Retailer by DIY Week, an accomplishment that was repeated only three weeks ago, when the business again took home the Gold as Britain's Best Tool Retailer 2010.

Mr Weiss said of the decision to step down: "I have had a fantastic time here at Isaac Lord and have implemented some significant changes which have benefited all of the stakeholders. David Abbott and Andrew Cripwell, the new owners, are now in a position to take things forward and I am confident they will move the business to a new level. It's the natural time to step aside."
However, it's not the end of his involvement with the business as Mr Weiss is launching his own consultancy and his services will be retained on that basis.

"I also hope to be able to continue to contribute to BHETA and the Rainy Day Trust," said Mr Weiss, "and to spend a little more time putting something back into a community that has been so good to me."