Peter George has been appointed as the new chairman of the board and non-executive director of pureplay online book retailer Booktopia.

He replaces outgoing chairman Chris Beare who resigned after announcing his intention in September. His departure bookends a turbulent time for the company whose founder Tony Nash was ousted in a boardroom stoush which eventually led to the resignations of most of the board’s directors over several months.

George has extensive experience and background in telecommunications, media and corporate finance. He has been executive chairman of Retail Food Group since 2018, a role he will continue to hold simultaneously.

“Booktopia’s strong market position and loyal customer base mean it has huge potential for further growth,” said George.

The Booktopia board now comprises George, Booktopia co-founder Tony Nash and executive director Steve Traurig.