Louise Barnes has scaled back her duties as chairman of lifestyle fashion retailer Joules to devote more time to Fenn Wright Manson, the womenswear retailer that she chairs.

Barnes joined Joules in January, three months after becoming executive chairman of Fenn Wright Manson following its sale to Darwin Private Equity.

Joules founder and chief executive Tom Joule said that Barnes had achieved the main objectives he had drafted her in to oversee. She remains in the post although she will devote fewer days a month to the retailer.

It is unclear how much longer she will stay involved. Joules said: “The job that Louise was brought in to do she’s done, which was to help me restructure the board. She’s there at the end of the phone when I need to speak to her.”

Joule has built Joules into a £60m business over 10 years and retains control of the 50-store, multichannel business.

Barnes has equity in Fenn Wright Manson which is understood to have led her to devote time to it.

Joules reported a 27% increase in like-for-like sales for the year to April and Joule said he was encouraged by reaction to the spring/summer ranges from wholesale customers, a lead indicator on performance. He said a new store in Edinburgh had performed well.

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