// Whittard of Chelsea CEO resigns after five years
// Finance chief Nathan Smith replaces CEO spot
Whittard of Chelsea chief executive Mark Dunhill has resigned from the tea and coffee specialist, giving the top position to finance chief Nathan Smith.
Dunhill handed in his resignation last month after five years at the retailer, the Telegraph reports.
“The business has strong momentum. The board believes in the strategy and the exciting prospects ahead for Whittard,” said the business in light of Dunhill’s departure.
“Mark has led the transformation of the business from high street retailer to global aspirational brand. This has involved the revitalisation of our product portfolio, store design and layout and upgrading the customer experience.”
Whittard’s latest accounts show the company made pre-tax profits of £327,000 on sales of £34 million as it stepped up its overseas sales.
Like-for-like sales in the UK were up by 10.3 per cent despite “a challenging retail environment”.
Smith will now takeover from Dunhill, having worked at the business for over ten years.
“[Smith] brings a deep understanding and knowledge of the business and his passion for the brand,” commented Whittard.
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