Profiles
Profile: Emma Fox, incoming commercial director, Halfords
Halfords will be relying on the marketer’s customer understanding to help it emphasise its service appeal.
Profile: Jo Jenkins, director of lingerie and beauty, Marks & Spencer
M&S has hired a new boss for one of its most crucial categories - lingerie. Can she help turn around the embattled clothing arm?
Profile: Alistair McGeorge, chairman, New Look
The New Look chairman is known for tackling turnarounds and is making good progress at the value fashion group.
Profile: Francesca Hewitt, Retail Week Rising Star of the Year
Since winning the Retail Week Rising Stars award last year, Francesca Hewitt has climbed up New Look’s ranks -and her ambitions don’t stop there.
Profile: Ron Johnson, former chief executive, JC Penney
He may have revolutionised retail during his time at Apple, but his short tenure as chief executive of JC Penney ended in disappointment.
Profile: Peter Jones, owner and chief executive of Jessops
The entrepreneur and TV star has put collapsed camera specialist Jessops back on the high street and he has a clear picture of its future.
Profile: Darcy Willson-Rymer, Costcutter chief executive
The Costcutter boss has struck a deal with Palmer & Harvey that will add 800 stores to the convenience grocer’s estate.
Profile: Chris Matthews, Go Outdoors’ new chief executive
Chris Matthews, the new Go Outdoors boss, should find the UK a breeze having navigated the stormy waters of retail in Greece.
Profile: John Smith, Burberry’s new chief operating officer
Luxury retailer Burberry’s new chief operating officer, John Smith, is well placed to help the iconic brand continue its digital and social media push. Tiffany Holland reports.
Profile: Angela Spindler, chief executive, home shopping company N Brown
Angela Spindler, The Original Factory Shop boss, is taking her extensive fashion retail knowledge to N Brown to lead the plus-size specialist.
Profile: Philip Day, chief executive, Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group
A year on from Peacocks’ collapse, the value retailer group is back on its feet. Tiffany Holland talks to Philip Day of Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, the man behind its rescue.
Profile: Robin Terrell, multichannel director, Tesco
Tesco’s new multichannel boss arrives with a strong track record in ecommerce, but can he succeed in making grocery work better online for the UK’s largest retailer?
Profile: Chris Edwards, co-founder, Poundworld
The co-founder and co-managing director of Poundworld is driving rapid growth and rocketing sales at the family business.
Profile: John Roberts, chief executive, DRL
The chief executive of DRL has set his sights on rescuing the Comet brand to expand his electricals group. Gemma Goldfingle reports
Profile: Beatrice Lafon, president of European business, Claire's Accessories
As Claire’s Accessories’ turnaround progresses, its European boss is busy planning new formats, partnerships and online domination. Gemma Goldfingle reports
Profile: Frances Russell, womenswear director, Marks and Spencer
The newly appointed womenswear director of M&S has a challenge ahead to win consumer spend.
Profile: Steven Cohen, chief executive, Blue Inc
The Blue Inc boss, who reported strong profits last week, has managed to turn the recession to the retailer’s advantage. He tells Gemma Goldfingle how he has done it.
Profile: Andrew Moore, chief merchandising officer, Asda
Asda’s chief merchandising officer, also in charge of fashion brand George, is leading changes to improve the business.
Profile: Richard Pennycook, non-executive director, The Hut Group
The Hut Group’s newest board member hopes to use his wide City and retail experience to enable the etailer’s eventual IPO.
Profile: Steve Clarke, chief executive, WHSmith
WHSmith’s head of high street and Kate Swann’s right-hand man is primed to take over as chief executive.
Profile: Matthew Moulding, founder and chief executive, The Hut
The Hut is an entrepreneurial retail success story, and its founder and chief executive is eyeing an eventual float.
Profile: William Kim, chief executive, All Saints
Bringing a wealth of global experience, the new All Saints chief executive, William Kim, is setting his sights on expansion in the Asian and US markets.
Profile: John Browett, senior vice-president of retail, Apple
As the latest iPhone launches in the UK today, Alex Lawson profiles Apple’s senior vice-president of retail, who joined in April.
Profile: Michael Fallon, Minister for business
The newly appointed minister for business arrives at a punishing time for retailers. Will his background in commerce mean he tackles their concerns?
Profile: Bob Corliss, chairman, JJB
The US turnaround specialist is plunging in at the deep end at JJB. Can the new chairman’s sportswear expertise save the struggling retailer?
Profile: Duncan Tatton-Brown, new chief financial officer, Ocado
Duncan Tatton-Brown took up his position in one of the most high profile finance positions in retail this week.
Profile: Helen Dickinson, new director general, British Retail Consortium
After spending her whole career at accountancy firm KPMG, Helen Dickinson’s new role as director general at the British Retail Consortium (BRC) will be, in her own words, “a bit of a culture shock”.
Profile: Sally Bailey, chief executive, White Stuff
Tough times came late for White Stuff but, despite a profits plunge last year, its chief executive is preparing for future growth.
Profile: Beverley Williams, interim chief executive, JJB Sports
The low-profile former boss of La Senza brings a wealth of experience to ailing JJB Sports as it aims to close the gap on rival Sports Direct.
Profile: Dennis Millard, interim executive chairman, Halfords
The interim executive chairman of Halfords assumes former boss David Wild’s responsibilities at a challenging time.
Profile: Kate Barrett, store manager, Sainsbury's
As this year’s Skillsmart Retail Rising Star Awards draw closer, Alex Lawson speaks to last year’s overall winner.
Profile: Andrew Higginson, non-executive chairman, N Brown and Poundland
The Tesco executive and Springsteen fan won’t be dancing in the dark as he takes up his two new challenges.
Profile: Ewan Venters, chief executive, Fortnum & Mason
Running Fortnum & Mason could be the food fan’s sweetest role so far, but he will bring more to the table than a refined palate.
Profile: Darren Shapland, chief executive, Carpetright
Carpetright’s former finance director has returned to take the top job at the retailer, and addressing plummeting profits will be his priority.
Profile: Alex Baldock, chief executive, Shop Direct
The former banker who has always had his eye on retail can’t wait to get stuck into his new role as boss of Shop Direct.
Profile: Kevin Styles, chief executive, American Golf
The new chief executive of specialist sports retailer American Golf should quickly get into the swing of things as he focuses on continued growth and multichannel.
Profile: Ed Burstell, managing director, Liberty
The gregarious New Yorker who’s ‘blown the dust off’ Liberty is ensuring the retailer – now also trading at Westfield Stratford – makes the most of its history.
Profile: Peter Simon, founder, Monsoon Accessorize
The hands-on founder of Monsoon Accessorize is driving a management overhaul to steady the business following the departure of two key bosses.
Profile: Jon Kamaluddin, international director, Asos
As Asos continues to build its overseas business to drive sales, its international director relishes the challenges of global growth.
Profile: Stefano Pessina, executive chairman, Alliance Boots
As Alliance Boots defies the difficult economic climate, its executive chairman shrugs off criticism of its tax affairs.
Profile: Zev Weiss, chief executive, American Greetings
The collapse of Clinton Cards has put the boss of Ohio-based supplier American Greetings at the centre of the controversy.
Profile: Jonathon Brown, chief executive, M and M Direct
John Lewis’s online boss is making a big step to head M and M Direct, but given his multichannel successes he should be a good fit at the etailer.
Profile: Takao Kuwahara, UK chief executive, Uniqlo
The new Uniqlo UK chief executive faces the crucial task of getting the fashion retailer’s UK growth off the ground and beyond London.
Profile: Harold Tillman, Jaeger chairman
The Jaeger chairman may have sold most of his stake in the business and seen Aquascutum collapse, but he is no stranger to bouncing back.
My retail life: Sanjay Vadera, Chief executive, The Fragrance Shop
Sanjay Vadera, Chief executive of The Fragrance Shop, tells Retail Week about his life working in retail.
Profile: Aziz Tayub, Poundstretcher owner, chairman and chief executive
He may shun the spotlight, but the Poundstretcher boss has drawn the industry’s attention with plans to expand into the Middle East.
