Shop Direct has promoted group merchandising director Sam Perkins to the executive board in the role of group product director, replacing Matt Dixon who will leave next month.
Simultaneously, group fashion director Zoe Matthews is leaving the ecommerce giant in summer to become vice president of George, a fascia owned by Asda.
While Shop Direct – which operates online retailers Very and Littlewoods – said it was still looking for a successor to Matthews, it added that Perkins and Dixon would work together in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.
Perkins, currently group merchandising director, has been credited for playing a central role in delivering three successive, high-growth peak trading periods.
READ MORE:
He has been with Shop Direct for almost three years, joining from Tesco where he was commercial director.
“We’re delighted to promote Sam to the role. He’s proved to be an inspirational and innovative leader, who’s already made a big difference at Shop Direct,” interim group chief executive Derek Harding said.
“We’re confident that he’s the right person to head up our product team – where we have big opportunities in data-driven pricing and trialling new stockless technology – through the next phase of our transformation.”
Dixon was leaving to have some “time out with his family before exploring new opportunities”, Shop Direct said in a statement.
He has been with the retailer for seven years, the last four and a half in his capacity as group product director.
During that time, he has led the retailer to increase its stable of brands to over 1800, enhance sourcing capabilities around the globe, and oversaw the the launch of V by Very.
“Matt’s had a huge impact since joining the business and, latterly, our board,” Harding said.
“He’s successfully led our transformation across product and when he leaves the business, we’ll gratefully wish him all the best for the future.”
Meanwhile, Matthews has been attributed to re-focusing Shop Direct’s fashion brand portfolio towards major high street names like River Island and Mango, and premium names like Ted Baker and Karen Millen, as well as led the consolidation of own-label fashion brands into a single hero brand, V By Very.
“I’d also like to thank Zoe for her contribution to the business, which has helped to define our high quality clothing and footwear offering across both branded and own brand,” Harding said.
“When it comes time to say goodbye in the summer, we’ll wish her every success in her new role.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
