// Bonmarché CEO Helen Connolly steps down after 3 years
// Connolly previously served as head of buying at Asda, Dorothy Perkins and Next
Bonmarché chief executive Helen Connolly has stepped down from the embattled retailer after three years at the helm.
Connolly joined Bonmarché in August 2016, and officially resigned from her position on December 9, Drapers reported.
She has previously served as the former director of buying womenswear and lingerie at Big 4 grocer Asda, as well as Dorothy Perkins and Next.
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Bonmarche collapsed into administration in October, which put around 2900 jobs at risk, and 25 head office and middle management roles were immediately made redundant.
Following the administration, Spectre Holdings boss Philip Day lost his £5.73 million equity investment in Bonmarche.
In November, it was revealed that Edinburgh Woollen Mill-owned value retailer Peacocks was the preferred bidder for Bonmarché.
The deal would result in the closure of 30 “underperforming and unsustainable” Bonmarché stores by December 11 and “potential” further redundancies.
The Wakefield-based business employs 2887 people, including 200 staff at its head office, and trades through 318 UK stores and online.
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11 Comments. Leave new
I.’m really really sorry. Cannot say nothing more. Feel sad.
I’m 70 yrs old and find Bon Marche too old fashioned. Says it all.
I will miss this shop gutted.
I went in to my local shop this morning, closing down signs in the windows, inside it looked like a cross between a charity shop and a jumble sale, all the clothes that were full price removed to other shops and the rejected clothes from other shops dumped into the shop in Winton, Bournemouth. Disgraceful attitude.
I have shopped at Bonmarche for many many years. I am 78 years old and love to be in fashion and dress smartly. My friends and family are always asking where I buy my lovely clothes from. I always look after my clothes and wash them carefully.
SO PLEASE PLEASE BONMARCHE FIND SOME WAY OF STAYNG OPEN. THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE THINK AS I DO.
Marie Travasso
It not just the clothes which I like its the bigger sizes you cannot get in other shops on the high street linda
I am 70nyrs old, i have found this season’s cloths very frumpy, i.normall shopping Next, DP’s and M&S. The summer range wasnt too bad. Just because we are older we wont dress a thought we are being put out to grass. I love fashionable clothes, especially shoes and I still wear stiletto heels.
Just to frumpy need to be updated, even 60 plus women want to look fashionable bon Marche as lost its way!!
Helen Connolly was simply not experienced enough to lead as CEO. Not the right character or team building approach. She struggled to back the right ideas which should’ve been the bedrock for the business. Very sad that so many staff are fearing for their jobs over the festive period.
Absolutely gutted, BEST SHOP EVER
No wonder they are loosing money. Older people dont want to look like frumps. The winter jumpers etc are like something off a market stall. Get to grip with the customers.