High street nursery brand Mamas & Papas has announced Chief Operating Officer Nathan Williams as its new Chief Executive Officer to lead the company’s next phase of growth, which it said would include expansion into new and existing international markets. Current CEO Mark Saunders, who joined the business three years ago as Chief Transformation Officer, will become Executive Chairman.

Mr Williams joined Mamas & Papas in 2018 as Merchandise Director following senior merchandising roles at Very and Primark, becoming COO in 2020. Since then, he’s been a key figure in the company’s turnaround, leading its successful concession rollout with Next and Marks & Spencer in the UK, innovating its range and implementing the brand’s new ESG strategy.