Bookseller Borders has restructured its head office for the second time in 12 months, resulting in three people leaving the business and the creation of a merchandising department and two new director positions.

Two positions in the buying team have been scrapped as some responsibilities have been switched to a new merchandising department, which comprises seven employees.

Peter Newbould, who has today been appointed commercial director, called the new structure a “significant change in our ways of working”.

Chief information officer Simon Thomas is also leaving the business when his contract comes to an end in March.

Peter Baxter has been promoted to Head of IT and replaces him with immediate effect.

Additionally, James Sneddon has been appointed retail operations director, effective immediately.

Newbould said: “The new structure will help us realise the benefits of the new system and will enable us to deliver a more focused approach to driving sales and profitability from the breadth and depth of each of our categories.”

Borders last week revealed it was implementing a pay freeze across the business as it seeks to cut costs in the downturn.

Borders restructured its buying team last June, and asked staff to reapply for their jobs, leading to eight buyers leaving the business.

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