U.K. greetings card and gift retailer Card Factory has hired a former DLA Piper legal director as its new general counsel.

Ciaran Stone started in the role in May, according to the company's website. He replaces Shiv Sibal, who has picked up a new GC role at West Yorkshire-based construction group Marshalls.

Stone, a corporate finance lawyer, has a career spanning both in-house and private practice roles. His most recent position was interim in-house solicitor at U.K. financial services group Saga and he spent eight years until 2016 as a legal director at DLA.

Stone was previously general counsel at U.K. alcohol retailer and supplier Conviviality.