Alison Richards, the founder of homewares retailer The Pier, has died following a long battle against cancer.
Richards, who was a non-executive director of department store chain Beales, was one of the best-known and most successful female leaders in retail. In a statement to the Stock Exchange this morning, Beales said: “Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”
Richards, who left the Pier in 2006 following its takeover by Danish tycoon Jakup Jacobsen, devoted much of her energy to charitable causes, raising more than£1 million for Unicef during her time at The Pier.
She had also been a longstanding member of Retail Week’s Editorial Advisory Board and judge of the Retail Week Awards.
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