FOR 40 year old Maurice Pratt, his elevation to managing director of Quinnsworth/Crazy Prices is the logical conclusion to a rapid rise through the group's managerial ranks. He has been seen in the industry as the clear number three in the Quinnsworth hierarchy behind chairman Don Tidey and departed managing director Dick Reeves. "Maurice has been groomed for this job," said one source.

Maurice Pratt has spent his working life in the marketing and advertising industries. He started in 1973 as a media planner and buyer with advertising agency Hunter Advertising, now part of the Saatchi & Saatchi Group, before moving to Des O'Meara & Partners. At O'Meara's, Mr Pratt was head of the media department and later became an account director with responsibility for the Quinnsworth account.

In 1982 he joined Quinnsworth as marketing manager and soon became the public face of the company through his regular appearances in the company's advertisements in press, radio and television. In 1988 he was appointed to the board before taking up the position of deputy marketing director for the group. In September 1995 he was appointed marketing director.

The departure of Dick Reeves and the elevation of Maurice Pratt has been accompanied by some more top level management appointments at the Power Supermarkets' holding company. Ken Rowlands has been appointed marketing director while Tony Keohane becomes store operations director both will undoubtedly play prominent roles in resisting any effort by Dunnes to rebuild market share at the expense of Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices.