Fortnum & Mason has appointed Matchesfashion’s executive Tom Athron as its new chief executive, replacing Ewan Venters.

The luxury food specialist announced today that Athron would be taking over as chief executive on December 1, following a month’s handover with departing chief executive Venters. 

Athron joins from Matchesfashion, where he has been chief operating officer since May 2018. Prior to working for the global fashion retailer, Athron spent the bulk of his career with John Lewis, where he worked for 12 years in a variety of strategic, finance and operational roles. 

Athron also founded JLP Ventures, the innovation unit set up to identify and drive new growth opportunities and creative partnerships across the group’s operations.

Fortnum & Mason’s chair Kate Hobhouse said: “The board and I are delighted that Tom has agreed to join Fortnum’s. A versatile and highly experienced business leader, Tom has extensive leadership experience in digital and physical retail across food, luxury and designer fashion: he is a great fit with the multichannel business that Fortnum’s has become.

“Ours is a business that celebrates the very best, be it food, drink, joy-giving gifts or indeed experiences, and I know that Tom will bring great energy and expertise to Fortnum & Mason.”

Athron said: “I am thrilled to be joining such a special business as Fortnum & Mason, which I have long admired for its innovation, extraordinary food and drink and its exceptional people. A traditional British business with a truly global outlook and a strong purpose, increasingly desired around the world.

“I am greatly looking forward to working with the Fortnum’s team on realising its further potential and contributing to the next exciting phase in its long and illustrious history.”

He will replace incumbent chief executive Ewan Venters, who announced he would be stepping down from the role after eight years at the helm. 

During his tenure at the luxury food specialist, Venters has spearheaded consistent profit and sales growth while driving the brand’s travel division and international expansion, as well as the overhaul of the retailer’s ecommerce offering.

Venters is set to take a new role helming art gallery firm Hauser & Wirth next year.

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