// Ted Baker appoints Jennifer Roebuck to the newly-created role of chief customer officer
// She will develop a customer & digital strategy and explore new digital partnership opportunities
// Ted Baker says its search for a new CEO and chair continues and is progressing well
Ted Baker has appointed Jennifer Roebuck to the newly-created role of chief customer officer, as the search for a new chief executive and chair continues.
The fashion retailer said Roebuck was selected after a “thorough search process”, and will be moving to the new role after stints at French Connection and Feelunique, where she was multichannel marketing director and chief marketing officer respectively.
Roebuck is also a currently a non-executive director on Ted Baker’s board, but will step down from that position in April as a result of joining the retailer’s leadership team full time.
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As the new chief customer officer, Roebuck’s remit will consist of developing a customer and digital strategy across the Ted Baker business and exploring new digital partnership opportunities to drive accelerated growth.
Roebuck joins the fashion retailer at a tumultuous time.
Last week it was revealed that its accounting blunder was almost three times as bad as it first thought, after auditors found the value of Ted Baker’s stock inventory was overstated by £58 million – a huge increase on the initial estimates of between £20 million and £25 million late last year.
The accounting blunder also followed a tough 2019 for Ted Baker, with profit warnings, a sexual harassment scandal, declining shares and the exit of key leaders.
“We are delighted that Jennifer is joining the executive leadership team,” Ted Baker acting chair Sharon Baylay said.
“Her background in digital transformation and brand marketing, particularly in the lifestyle and clothing sector will be of huge benefit to the leadership team, as they look to position the business for future success.
“As Jennifer will be stepping down from the board, I would also like to thank her for her time and valuable contribution up to now.”
Roebuck said: “I’m tremendously pleased to be taking up the role of CCO.
“My time on the board has strengthened my view that Ted is a great brand and business and I look forward to contributing to its future success.”
Ted Baker also updated the market on its search for a new permanent chief executive and chair, saying that the the search “is progressing well”.
Shares fell to 16-year lows in December when chief executive Lindsay Page and chairman David Bernstein announced they were leaving.
Page had only been chief executive for about nine months, after taking over from founder Ray Kelvin, who was caught up in a harassment scandal following allegations from staff.
Kelvin, who still owns 35 per cent of Ted Baker, has consistently denied all allegations.
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