// CEO of 250-year-old dept store Jarrold, Minnie Moll, made redundant with immediate effect
// In addition, 90 other jobs across the business made redundant, almost 1/4 of the total workforce
// Moll had announced in June that Jarrold will reduce employment costs by 20%
Norwich’s heritage department store Jarrold has made almost one quarter of its total workforce redundant, including its chief executive Minnie Moll.
The 250-year-old retailer said Moll has left the business with immediate effect as part of a “a restructure of our executive team” brought about by the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.
A recent business-wide consultation also resulted in the loss of 90 jobs at Jarrold, which equates to almost one quarter of its workforce of around 400.
The executive restructure and job cuts were part of a cost reduction scheme that Moll herself announced back in June.
Jarrold chairman David Hill said Moll’s departure was not a reflection on her performance, and praised her “outstanding contribution” since she was appointed chief executive in August 2018.
“We can confirm the Minnie Moll has left the business following a restructure of our executive team brought about by the impact of the current Covid-19 crisis,” Hill said.
“This is no reflection on the outstanding contribution Minnie has made to the business and the leadership she has shown in her time at Jarrold.
“We are very sad to see her go and she leaves with our sincere thanks and best wishes.”
Moll had left her position as joint chief executive of the East of England Co-op to succeed Peter Mitchell at Jarrold, with the remit of revamping the family-run department store as it approached its 250th year of operation.
In mid-June, Moll stood at the entry herself to welcome customers when the store reopened after lockdown on non-essential retail was lifted.
It was 10 days later that she told staff in an email that redundancies were on the horizon as part of plans to cut business costs by 20 per cent.
Jarrold was founded in Woodbridge, Suffolk in 1770, but moved to Norwich in 1823.
Its iconic five-floor store is based in London Street, with smaller outposts in Cromer and Wymondham.
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