Next’s product guru has been instrumental in breathing new life into the retail giant’s ranges and driving its second-half success.

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He may not be in the public eye but Next group product director Christos Angelides is always by the side of chief executive Simon Wolfson.

Widely regarded as a skilled product man, he has been instrumental in turning around the fashion fortunes of Next and is seen as Wolfson’s right hand man.

As with many of Next’s staff, Angelides is a long-serving employee, having been at the retailer almost 24 years. While Wolfson is the figurehead of the bellwether retailer, Angelides is seen as its quiet driving force.

Angelides joined Next in 1986 as general manager of its sourcing office in Hong Kong and worked his way up the company.

In the past few years, he has led his team to bring an injection of fashionability into Next’s ranges. Many commentators say its womenswear has particularly improved: its footwear offer has broadened, and its younger, more fashion-focused Runway collection is inspired by the latest catwalk trends.

Improving product across both Next’s fashion and home merchandise was touted as one of the main drivers of the retailer’s strong second half, revealed on Wednesday, when like-for-like sales climbed 3.2%.

The product improvements have helped Next stay ahead in the competitive middle market, and it continues to be one retailer constantly performing ahead of expectations thanks to its experienced and careful management.

Numis analyst Nick Coulter said: “The view is that Next fashion has finally turned a corner and he [Angelides] can take a lot of credit for that.”

He adds that this year Angelides needs to “sustain the embryonic revival in Next’s fortune and continue to make it relevant”.

Angelides is a family man, very proud of his two children. He is also a sports lover, with West Bromwich Albion his football team of choice. John Heath, the former director of designer mini-chain Cruise who worked with Angelides when he was at Next, praises him for being a “lovely guy”.

“From very early on you could see he has a great future and he is very well respected in Next,” he says.

“He has a good retail head as well as an eye for product.”

This is a view mirrored by many who have crossed paths with Angelides. Heath adds that the sociable and affable Angelides has the ability to build a good team around him and that people really enjoy working for him. However, others who know him say he is also very demanding of his team.

Angelides is a natural succession candidate for Wolfson, who, although he has spoken of his desire to stay at Next, is widely touted to have political ambitions. Were he to step down or become chairman at any stage, there is little doubt Angelides would be a front-runner for the chief executive role.

Coulter says, however, he “would certainly be a contender but not the favourite”. Angelides has the depth of knowledge of the business to lead the retailer, but the City may prefer an outsider with chief executive experience to take the reins.

Whatever the case, Angelides is a shining example of how well Next looks after and nurtures talent.

Angelides is one of the many behind-the-scenes talents on the high street. And in the competitive middle market - in one of the toughest retail climates - he has made sure Next’s product has stood out and kept ahead. This year he expects to do much the same.