Up-to-date coverage of the latest events in UK retail.

15.11: Dixons Carphone appoints former McDonald’s HR officer

Dixons Carphone has appointed former McDonald’s director Paula Coughlan as its new chief HR officer.

Coughlan is set to join the retailer in April from McDonald’s, where she is currently chief people strategy officer. She also previously held senior roles at PepsiCo.  

Dixons Carphone Group boss Alex Baldock said Coughlan’s appointment was part of the retailer’s move from “strategy to action”.

“Capable and committed colleagues are our greatest advantage and we know we have a big job ahead to make Dixons Carphone a great place for our colleagues to work, as well as a great place for our customers to shop. Paula brings with her the right expertise and experience to build on the work we’ve done and lead us in doing just that,” he said.

7.08am Sir Philip Green ends legal action against The Telegraph

Sir Philip Green is to discontinue his legal action against The Telegraph to prevent “causing further distress” to Arcadia’s employees.

As reported last week, the fashion tycoon was seeking damages from the newspaper after it published a front page story centred on allegations of bullying by an unnamed businessman.

Green’s lawyers were granted an injunction preventing The Telegraph from naming him in the article. But he was named just days later by Labour peer Lord Hain in the House of Lords, who used parliamentary privilege to break the injunction.

Green and Arcadia had brought the claim to “protect the properly entered into confidentiality agreements”.

But the fashion group said today that “after careful reflection”, it concluded it was “pointless to continue with the litigation”.

6.55am British businesses ‘praying’ for Brexit extension

UK businesses are “praying for an extension to article 50” rather than face a no-deal Brexit, according to experts from accountancy firm KPMG.

James Stewart, KPMG’s head of Brexit, said: “Many of the businesses we’re speaking to are praying for an extension to article 50.”

He added: “At this stage even our most-informed clients feel as if anything could happen. They’re thinking about getting products from A to B, market access and staffing up situation rooms for April. Forecasting the outcome of Brexit is a bit like trying to predict a greyhound race; there are no safe bets.”

It came as the Confederation of British industry warned that businesses’ reported growth prospects were at the weakest for almost six years.

Dixons Carphone appoints former McDonald’s HR officer