Matalan has hired ex-H&M boss Henrik Nordvall as its new CEO.

Nordvall most recently served as country manager/CEO of H&M UK and Ireland.

He joined H&M in 2008 as a trainee, and held a variety of positions during his 17 years at the company, including global head of franchise, managing director H&M kidswear and managing director H&M menswear.

Matalan executive chairman Karl-Heinz Holland, who was appointed to the role in 2024, is set to return to his former role as chair of the board upon Nordvall’s arrival.

Nordvall said: “I am thrilled to join Matalan as the new CEO from February 2026. Matalan is on a very exciting journey of delivering everyday style, quality and value to their customers, and I am excited to start contributing to the business.

“Together with the executive team, the board and the whole Matalan team, I look forward to taking the company into the future.”

Holland added: “I am absolutely delighted that Henrik is joining Matalan at this exciting stage of our transformation. 

“Henrik, we have an individual with significant UK apparel retail experience, coupled with proven CEO leadership experience, to continue Matalan’s strategic delivery.

“I have no doubt that he will add huge value across all areas of the business, complementing the experienced executive and leadership team.”

Matalan recently bolstered its senior leadership team with a series of senior hires, as it sought to deepen its expertise across buying and design, trading and merchandising, customer and loyalty, and e-commerce.

The appointments included Jo Bennett joining as the brand’s director of buying and design and Jon Williams stepping into the newly created role of director of trading, planning and merchandising.

Additionally, Eilidh MacAskill joined the business as its director of marketing, while Andreas Nicolaides was appointed as the company’s director of digital.

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