Outgoing Home Retail chief executive Terry Duddy wants to take on an executive position within retail when he steps down from the Argos-owner next year.
Duddy, who has been Home Retail chief executive for seven years and been at the business for 15, told Retail Week: “I’ve got no plans and I’ve got an open mind. But top of the list would be an executive job somewhere. Retail is an incredibly exciting place to be.”
However Duddy did not rule out working in other sectors or ‘going plural’ by taking on a range of non-executive roles.
He added that he is opting to stand down next year so Home Retail could have “clarity” on its succession plans. He said he was asked to commit to the business longer than he was prepared to, and so decided to step down in 2014 to ensure an “orderly transition”.
Duddy said his standout achievement at Home Retail was launching click-and-collect in 2002. He highlighted that the service now represents 32% of sales at Argos. “I think that’s quite impressive,” he said.
He said his legacy would also include launching the Argos website in 1999 with plans to make £100m turnover from the channel, and leaving with it generating £1.5bn. He added that while trading had been “challenging” over recent years he was proud of Argos’ lead on mobile.
Argos managing director John Walden is thought to be among the front runners to succeed Duddy.
Walden joined Home Retail-owned Argos last year and his turnaround strategy, which was unveiled last year and put digital at its heart, was well received.
Walden is likely to face competition for the top job from other internal candidates including Home Retail’s long serving finance director Richard Ashton and external candidates that could include former Shop Direct boss Mark Newton-Jones.
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