President, TJX Europe

The man who runs TK Maxx and Homesense in the UK and across Europe keeps a very low profile but the impact of the business he runs cannot be questioned.

As conditions have got tougher in the market, his stores have provided a vital outlet for brands to offload surplus stock, not just in fashion for which the business is best known, but also in homewares through its new Homesense venture. Sweetenham has outlined aggressive expansion plans for both businesses, not just in the UK but in mainland Europe, too, where TK Maxx has got off to a strong start.

Although not seen much outside his Watford office, Sweetenham is very well connected across the fashion retail world. With more tough times ahead and the company’s big expansion plans, his role is only set to grow.