2025 saw highest number of new female retail CEOs on record

As new chief executive appointments near-doubled, UK retail firms picked more women than ever to take top-jobs with many of them first-time CEOs, Retail Week can reveal.

In total, there were 40 new retail chief executives in 2025 according to the latest Korn Ferry UK Retail CEO report, shared exclusively with Retail Week. That was the highest number in three years and nearly double the 22 appointed in 2024.

 

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