It has been a non-stop merry-go-round for CEOs this past few weeks with a number exiting their roles.
John Lewis Partnership group CEO Nish Kankiwala returns to a non-executive role at the retail business from March ’25 when new chairman Jason Tarry takes on the role of chairing the executive team as well as the partnership board. It is understood that the role of CEO, introduced by Sharon White, will be completely phased out. Kankiwala said: “I was delighted to take on the (CEO) role for a two-year period during this time of pivotal change. Since then, we’ve refreshed our Partnership strategy to be rooted in retail; significantly improved our cash flows to enable record investment for growth; and returned the Partnership to full-year profit.”
Fenwick which had announced the appointment of Nigel Blow as its new CEO earlier this year has seemingly ‘cancelled’ him in the wake of the scandal surrounding the late Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged abuse of employees during his ownership of Harrods. Blow was a senior figure at Harrods between 1992 and 2007 but has categorically denied any knowledge of the outrageous actions of his boss which have recently hit the headlines. In a statement, Nigel Blow said: “I was very excited to join Fenwick and take on the significant challenge of turning the business around to profitability after a run of poor, loss-making, results in recent years. Disappointingly, Fenwick seems to have found me ‘guilty by association’ in the light of the understandable furore concerning the reported behaviour of Harrods’ former owner Mohamed Al Fayed. Fenwick’s action is unjustified, unfair and in breach of contract.”
Inditex UK and Ireland managing director Max Nutz leaves the Spanish fashion giant on a high after twenty-five years and is succeeded by Pilar Losada who has headed the group’s Australia and New Zealand business having previously been managing director of its central China operations.
Jo Whitfield who has been CEO at Matalan is on the move after just 18 months in the role. This leaves the retailer’s chair Karl-Heinz Holland moving into an executive role whilst Whitfield’s replacement is appointed. Whitefield said in a statement: “It has been a fast-paced transformational 18 months and I am proud of everything that the Matalan teams and I have achieved. Now feels the right time to pass the baton as the next phase of transformation continues.”
Richard Price, MD M&S Clothing & Home has joined Refined Network‘s board as a non-executive director. Refined Networks was co-founded by Ben Barnett, Sune Bjerregaard and Ian Wallis. Barnett said: “We are delighted to be bringing on board a retail leader of Richard’s calibre – and one that shares our belief in the power of digital marketplaces to drive fashion growth globally.”
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