As 2022 comes to an end, Retail Gazette takes a look at some of the biggest appointments and exits that took place over the year.
Appointments
Mark Jackson, chief executive, Wilko
Just this week Wilko appointed ex-Bensons for Beds boss Mark Jackson as its new chief executive as talks continue over a refinancing to secure the retailer’s future.
Jermone Saint-Marc, who had been transformation director at Wilko before stepping up to CEO in February 2020, stood down with immediate effect.
The turnaround job at Wilko will not faze Jackson following his time at Bensons for Beds and its previous owner, South African conglomerate Steinhoff.
He weathered the storm of an accounting scandal that took Steinhoff to the brink of collapse and stayed on to lead Bensons after its pre-pack administration.
He helped get the beds giant back on to a solid financial footing before he stepped down earlier this year.
All eyes will be on Jackson to see if he can get not just secure Wilko’s future but get it firing on all cylinders again.
José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, chief executive, Asos
Asos ended its long search for a new chief executive in June, as it named chief commercial officer José Antonio Ramos Calamonte as its new boss.
Calamonte started immediately as Asos had been without a permanent CEO since Nick Beighton left in October last year.
Calamonte has a challenge ahead as Asos has sounded multiple profit warnings over the year and has suffered a string of executive departures.
Former Inditex executive Calamonte has unveiled his 12 month turnaround plan, which will focus on both a number of “decisive, short-term operational measures to simplify the business, alongside steps to unlock longer-term sustainable growth”.
The retailer will focus on renewing its commercial model and improving inventory management; simplifying and reducing its cost profile; ensuring a robust and flexible balance sheet; and reinforcing the leadership team and refreshing the culture.
Michael Murray, CEO, Frasers Group
Michael Murray, Frasers Group’s former head of elevation, became CEO this May, taking over from father-in-law Mike Ashley.
Murray had certainly proven his credentials and has helped improve the Sports Direct brand and store experience, and build Flannels into the UK’s leading premium fashion destination.
However, his appointment caused ripples due to the £20.9 million he was paid in consultancy fees before he formally took the job and the eye-watering £100 million bonus he could be paid if he manages to increase the Frasers Group share price to £15 by 2025.
Régis Schultz, CEO, JD Sports
In August, JD Sports hired former B&Q executive Régis Schultz to take over from Peter Cowgill as chief executive.
Schultz joined in September, replacing interim CEO Kath Smith, a former Adidas executive, who has been running the company since Cowgill’s departure in May.
He comes with a wealth of retail experience, mostly on a global stage, having most recently helmed the French retailer Monoprix – owned by Groupe Casino – and led retail at Al-Futtaim Group, a large conglomerate based in Dubai.
Stuart Machin, chief executive, M&S; and Katie Bickerstaffe, co-chief executive, M&S
M&S raised eyebrows earlier this year when it hired not one, but two internal candidates to replace outgoing CEO Steve Rowe.
Former M&S Food boss Stuart Machin was named chief executive, whilst Katie Bickerstaffe, who had led strategy and transformation at the retailer, was named co-chief executive.
Despite the similar job title, it appears Machin is the more senior, taking on the “day-to-day” leadership duties, while Bickerstaffe manages the omnichannel, digital and data operations.
Derek Lawlor, CEO, Poundstretcher
Back in August, Poundstretcher named Asda executive Derek Lawlor as its new CEO as owner Aziz Tayub moved from chief executive to chairman.
Lawlor was senior vice president of food and general merchandise at Asda, where he served for the past seven years and prior to that was the category director at Tesco.
Lawlor is focusing on promoting the retailer’s value credentials as it seeks to thrive during the cost-of-living crisis.
He is also prioritising improving supply at Poundstretcher and trying to win back the support of suppliers that stopped trading with it when it undertook its CVA last year.
Lyssa McGowan, CEO, Pets at Home
Pets at Home poached its new chief executive Lyssa McGowan from Sky back in June.
McGowan, who also sat on the board of Morrisons until its recent sale to CD&R, took over the reins from Peter Pritchard in June.
The former Sky chief consumer officer has broad experience of managing product, service and subscription-led businesses, and leveraging capabilities in new product and service innovation.
She also has expertise in data and digital transformation.
Although McGowan has yet to unveil her strategy, she is expected to continue Pets at Home’s focus on building a subscription business and using its data to offer customers a 360 degree petcare service.
Nick Beighton, CEO, Matchesfashion
Beighton, who is Matchesfashion’s fourth CEO in four years, is attempting to revive the luxury online retailer’s performance and bring to the stability to the business.
He replaced Paolo De Cesare, who lasted less than a year as CEO.
Beighton stepped down last year as CEO of online fast fashion giant Asos after over a decade at the business, having helped transform it into a £4 billion operation.
Shirine Khoury-Haq, Group CEO, The Co-op
The Co-op hired Shirine Khoury-Haq, its first female CEO, in August.
She held the role on an interim basis beforehand after taking over from Steve Murrells earlier this year, who had been at the business for 10 years.
Khoury-Haq first joined the group in the summer of 2019 as chief financial officer and has previously been COO at Lloyd’s of London for five years.
Helen Connolly, CEO, New Look
New Look appointed a new chief executive to replace Nigel Oddy in June, promoting its chief commercial officer of two years, Helen Connolly.
Prior to New Look, Connolly was the chief executive of Bonmarché for four years.
She has also worked as the director of buying, womenswear and lingerie for George at Asda as well as head of buying at Dorothy Perkins.
Exits
Peter Cowgill, executive chair, JD Sports
In May, JD Sports’ executive chair Peter Cowgill stepped from his role at the business with immediate effect after 18 years at the chain.
The long-term CEO, who built JD Sports into a sportswear giant, had sparked governance concerns after a string of missteps.
Back in February, he hit the headlines after the CMA hit JD Sports with a fine £4.3m after Cowgill was found to have breached its rules by covertly meeting the chief executive of potential JD acquisition Footasylum, and exchanging commercially sensitive information.
However, in September it was revealed that Cowgill would return to JD in a consultancy role as he was awarded a £5.5 million exit deal.
Mike Ashley, Frasers Group
Frasers Group founder Mike Ashley stepped down from his role as a director on the Sports Direct and Flannels owner’s board this year.
Ashley, who founded the retail empire, stepped back from running Frasers in May when he handed the reins to son-in-law Michael Murray.
However, he also relinquished his board director role in October.
Ashley, who remains the controlling shareholder of the retail group, said he would still be available to advise management when asked.
Anne Pitcher, managing director, Selfridges Group
In August, Selfridges group managing director Anne Pitcher revealed she would stand down at the end of the year.
Pitcher leaves after 18 years at Selfridges Group, which she joined after spells at luxury department store rivals Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
She became the managing director of Selfridges in 2011 and led its parent group, which includes Irish department stores Brown Thomas and Arnotts, plus Dutch chain De Bijenkorf chain, from 2019.
Pitcher’s departure follows the sale of department store business to Thai conglomerate Central Group and Austrian property company Signa Holding in late 2021.
Melanie Smith, CEO, Ocado Retail
Ocado Retail chief executive Melanie Smith stepped down from the online grocer in August after three years at the helm.
Smith was instrumental in forming and growing Ocado’s joint venture with M&S. She was previously strategy director at M&S.
Smith departure coincided with a deterioration in performance at Ocado as hard-pressed customers have started to trade down.
She was replaced by the chief product officer of Ocado’s technology division Hannah Gibson, who took over as CEO in September.
Trevor Strain, chief operating officer, Morrisons
Morrisons COO Trevor Strain, who had been viewed as the likely successor to CEO David Potts, stood down from the grocer in September.
Former Tesco executive Strain had been at Morrisons since 2009. He was previously CFO and was promoted to his current role in October 2019
His departure comes in the aftermath of the grocer’s acquisition by private equity firm CD&R in a deal worth about £7 billion.
Steve Rowe, CEO, M&S
Marks & Spencer CEO Steve Rowe stood down in March after six years at the helm.
Rowe joined M&S from school at the age of 15 and rose through the ranks before taking over as chief executive in 2016.
He led M&S’ turnaround during his tenure as CEO, which has been bearing fruit of late.
Rowe helped take M&S Food online for the first time through the Ocado Retail joint venture and has doubled M&S clothing and home sales.
Simon Arora, CEO, B&M
B&M chief executive Simon Arora retired in September after leading the discount retailer for almost two decades.
Former McKinsey executive Arora bought B&M jointly with his family back in 2004 when it had just 21 stores. It now has around 700 stores and a market cap of more than £4 billion.
B&M has promoted its chief financial officer Alex Russo, a former Asda and Tesco exec, to the role of chief executive.
The Co-op CEO Steve Murrells, and The Co-op Food CEO Jo Whitfield
The Co-op suffered two high-profile departures over the year as both group CEO Steve Murrells and food boss Jo Whitfield revealed they would leave the mutual.
Murrells has spent 10 years at The Co-op, five as CEO of its food business and the following five leading the entire group.
Meanwhile, its well-respected Co-op Food chief executive Jo Whitfield also revealed she would leave the retailer after five years.
Whitfield, who was considered a contender to replace Murrells before Shirine Khoury-Haq got the job, decided it was “right time to move on and pursue her next challenge”, according to Co-op chair Allan Leighton.
Mat Dunn, CFO and COO, Asos
Mat Dunn was one of a long line of Asos execs to leave over the year.
Dunn joined Asos in 2019 as CFO before taking on the additional role of COO in October 2021.
He also served as interim chief executive in period when previous CEO Nick Beighton stood down in October 2021, until new boss José Antonio Ramos Calamonte was hired in June this year.
However, it did not take long for Dunn to re-emerge. Just a month after he stood down from Asos, he was appointed as CFO of Gymshark.
