group of companies after 23 years to concentrate on the development of its parent company, BDC.

Mr. Young, who continues as president and CEO of BDC, said yesterday: "I will have more time to concentrate on running the overall development of the business.

"These are exciting new times for the company.'' Northern Californian Mr.

Robert Skelley has been appointed as BGA's new boss.

Mr. Skelley, 44, was previously a group president for California-based Core-Mark International, a full-line distributor in the US and Canada with annual sales of $1.8 billion.

Mr. Skelley's division had annual sales of about $300 million and a workforce of 300 people.

"I became aware of the opening more than three months ago and I took it from there,'' said Mr. Skelley. "I decided to move for a combination of reasons. I was very impressed with Ward as a person and as a business person.

"I was also very impressed with the tremendous opportunities that exist with the BGA group. We're on the verge of great things, as is BDC as a whole.

"Another factor was the quality of life in Bermuda for my wife and two young sons.'' BDC is the holding company for retailer Phoenix Stores Ltd., which is run by Mr. Young's brother, Reid, and the BGA group.

The BGA group has expanded rapidly over the last few years following the acquisitions of rival companies, Weldon and Purvis Distributors, and now employs some 125 people.

Several staff have been made redundant over the last several months as BDC merged the three operations, but Mr. Skelley said the worst was behind the company now.

"The amalgamation is complete,'' said Mr. Skelley. "The company is through the throes of change.

"The BGA group is poised today to become the best distributor on the Island.

"We're in the midst of putting together, not just at BGA but also BDC, a comprehensive business plan that will guide our actions in some measure for the next year or two.

"We're collectively optimistic that BGA and BDC will have a marvellous year in 1994.'' Fiscal 1993, which ends on December 31, has been a "difficult year'' for BGA, said Mr. Skelley.

"However, in the last few months the business has improved significantly,'' he added. "We're operating much more efficiently and we think we will finish 1993 with a better year than we had forecast at the beginning of the year. It will certainly be a better year than 1992.'' A new computer system, merging the sales and purchases aspects of the distributing arms, will be put into place in January, 1994.

"I'm so excited about the opportunities for our company today,'' said Mr.

Skelley.

"We have a marvellous group of employees throughout the company and awfully good management talent.

"They are clearly planning for the future and we're in the midst of planning for that right now.'' Mr. Ward Young.