George MacDonald
George MacDonald is executive editor of Retail Week.
He has worked on the title since 1998, originally starting as a reporter, and covered sectors ranging from food to department stores.
He is in day-to-day charge of Retail Week’s editorial content online and in print. He writes a weekly City column and blogs.
George has interviewed many of the biggest names in retail and is often asked to comment in the wider media on the latest industry developments.
Contact info
- Tel:
- +44 (0)20 3033 2836
- Email:
- george.macdonald@retail-week.com
VideoWill Christmas 2019 be ho-ho-ho or humbug for retailers?
With some retail leaders preparing for ‘the worst Christmas since Woolworths collapsed’ in 2008, the team debate if businesses will be full of festive cheer or fear by the end of 2019.
- Opinion
Leader: Never mind the carpets, WHSmith’s Clarke leaves the firmest of foundations
The state of WHSmith’s carpets might prompt mirth on social media, but there’s nothing shabby about the legacy of departing chief executive Steve Clarke.
- Analysis
Analysis: John Lewis’ restructure – bold or baffling?
When John Lewis Partnership chair Sir Charlie Mayfield unveiled a restructure of the bellwether retailer, so radical was the overhaul that jaws dropped across the industry.
- Video
Is Hays Travel bonkers to buy 555 Thomas Cook stores?
After Hays Travel bought more than 500 Thomas Cook stores, potentially saving thousands of jobs, following its recent collapse, the team debate if the move is savvy or reckless, and what the deal means for the wider high street.
- Opinion
Leader: Thomas Cook deal is vote of confidence in high streets
The acquisition of Thomas Cook by Hays Travel is potentially great news for high streets, one shaft of sunlight to pierce the clouds hanging over town centres.
- News
Debenhams wins £50m backing to fund peak trading
Department store group Debenhams has secured an additional £50m of funding that will enable it to trade at full-tilt over the vital Christmas period, Retail Week can reveal.
- News
Shearwood heads for High Court clash with Clarks
Former Clarks boss Mike Shearwood has pressed the button on court action against the footwear giant.
- News
Marks & Spencer bolsters food team with new directors
Marks & Spencer has strengthened its food division with the appointment of four new directors ahead of its launch online with Ocado.
- News
Kingfisher appoints new finance chief
DIY giant Kingfisher has named Bernard Bot as its new chief financial officer.
- News
Former Waitrose boss Lord Price launches online bookstore
Ex-Waitrose managing director Lord Mark Price has launched an online bookstore which he hopes to turn into a “Netflix for business”.
- News
Marks & Spencer relaunches Per Una with marketing push
Marks & Spencer has launched the first big marketing campaign for its Per Una range in more than five years, coinciding with an overhaul of the sub-brand
- News
Pepco names ex-Tesco exec Masters as managing director
European value retailer and Poundland stablemate Pepco has named Trevor Masters as its new boss.
- News
Angling Direct posts first-half profits rise
Angling Direct has reported a rise in interim sales and profits and said it will meet full-year expectations.
- News
Harrods boss warns on dangers of Corbyn government as profits slip
Harrods managing director Michael Ward has voiced fears that a Corbyn administration would impose money exchange controls to stop cash flowing overseas and that wealthy customers would take fright.
- News
Made.com mulls push into furniture rental
Made.com is experimenting with a furniture rental service in response to a “societal shift” in home ownership.
- News
Boots drafts in ex-Dunelm director as retail chief
Boots UK has appointed a new retail director in the latest hire as it seeks to improve performance.
- News
John Lewis demands service charge cuts from landlords
John Lewis & Partners has become the latest retailer to demand better terms from landlords.
- Video
Insights on tomorrow’s retail from Tech. 2019
The team picks their highlights from this year’s Tech. 2019 festival, including a debate on whether the mobile phone is ‘dead’.
- News
Waitrose boss Collins: New JLP structure was a head versus heart decision
Waitrose managing director Rob Collins said his head beat his heart as he emphatically backed the new management structure at John Lewis Partnership, which will result in his departure.
- News
JD.com chief: Retailer and brand collaboration will create new sources of value
The value of product will become less important to retailers in future but product will instead open the door to new sources of value, the bosses of Chinese ecommerce giant JD.com believe.
