Halfords Autocentres will appoint Bill Duffy as its new chief executive on September 12 following Duncan Wilke’s departure to “look for new challenges”.

Duffy has been chief operating officer at Halfords Autocentres (previously Nationwide Autocentres) since February 2006. He has 30 years of experience in the industry and will lead the company’s next phase of growth, overseeing ambitions to grow the chain to 400 outlets in the next five years.

Wilkes led the management buy-out of the Nationwide business with Phoenix in 2006, managed the growth which followed, the sale to Halfords and its rebranding as Halfords Autocentres which was completed in March.

David Wild, Halfords Group chief executive, said: “Duncan has been a fantastic colleague.

“I’d like to thank him for his immense contribution to the growth and development of our Autocentres business through its transition from a private company to Halfords ownership. We wish him well with his next projects.

“I’d like to welcome Bill to his new role. He and I have already been working closely together in his capacity as COO. He knows the business inside out and has the ideal experience and leadership qualities to drive the next phase of the growth strategy.”