Asos has appointed its newest Chief Financial Officer Helen Ashton, who succeeds the group‘s current CFO, Nick Beighton. The former Finance Director of Lloyds Banking Group will assume her new role on 1 September, bringing her extensive finance history to the group.
Ashton headed retail finance at grocer Asda from 2003 to 2005 and became Barclaycard International‘s Managing Director from 2005 to 2009. Subsequently she left her two-year role as Finance Director at Lloyds in 2012, to take on a Chief Executive role at debt management business Capquest.
Asos‘ Chief Executive Nick Robertson said: “Helen brings an unusual combination of deep financial experience, combined with her track record in consumer facing and retail businesses. She has also been involved in significant change management situations and has demonstrated great leadership capability.”
Ashton added, “My time in financial services has been a great experience, but the role at Asos fits perfectly with what I want to do now, enabling me to build on my passion for consumer facing businesses and retail specifically.”
Ashton joins the online fashion giant on a sales uplift. The retailer, which houses third-party brands, has increased its sales in the first-half year. Seasonal periods of Christmas and Easter have boosted the group‘s revenue.
Nick Robertson sold about £20m of shares in the company in January, amounting to around 10% of his holding. It left him with an 8% stake, making him the company‘s second-largest shareholder.
By Natalie Whitmore
