// River Island marketing director Jill Gate has left the business with immediate effect
// Her departure comes weeks after CEO Will Kernan announced his resignation “to pursue personal projects”
River Island’s marketing director Jill Gate has left the fashion retailer with immediate effect to pursue new opportunities elsewhere, Drapers has reported.
Gate joined the business in December 2020 from Photobox, where she was interim brand director from April 2020 and prior to this, she held senior marketing roles at Oasis and Warehouse.
Last week chief executive Will Kernan announced his resignation after three years in his role “to pursue personal projects,” although he will remain at River Island until 2023 and will work closely with chairman Clive Lewis on a handover process.
A search for Kernan’s successor is now underway.
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Earlier this month the retailer was met with widespread praise after introducing care packages for its staff to support them during the cost-of-living crisis.
In a memo seen by Retail Gazette, River Island Kernan informed staff across stores and HQ that support packages – funded by the retailer’s founder Bernard Lewis – will be made available.
“These packages will be available to all Islanders across our stores and HQ from financial support and food/personal care packages to mental health and wellbeing support,” Kernan said.
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