THE former Asda boss who has taken the helm at a fast-growing East Lancashire business has declared ‘I am here for the long-term’.

Andy Bond, who was chief executive of the supermarket giant between 2005 and 2010, is the new non-executive chairman of Euro Garages after becoming ‘despondent’ with life at Asda.

The move, a coup for Euro Garages directors Mohsin and Zuber Issa, will see Mr Bond invest some of his own money into the firm and offer his expertise on a part-time basis. Mr Bond, who has an impressive CV - he was chief executive of Britain’s second largest supermarket at just 40 and was chairman from 2010 until earlier this month - said he was serious about working for the East Lancashire company.

Mr Bond told the Lancashire Telegraph: “This is a long-term project for me, not just a year or two.

“I am not a fly-by-night. I like what I see at Euro Garages and I want to stick around.”

Mr Bond, who lives in North Yorkshire, said the chance to get involved with Euro Garages came about by chance through a mutual friend, but he was deadly serious about the role.

The company, one of East Lancashire’s fastest growing, has a portfolio of more than 80 forecourts and last year notched up sales of £285million.

It has tie-ups with big names like Subway, Starbucks and BP and is due to move from its current home in Blackburn Road, Darwen, to a new purpose-built HQ in Haslingden Road, Blackburn, later this year.

Mr Bond said: “What the Issa brothers are doing is turning petrol forecourt retailing into world-class retailing.”