Many retail chief executives have carefully curated their public image and avoided commenting on a host of issues that could anger shareholders.
But there are some who don’t exactly fit the mould.
Retail Gazette takes a look at some of the retail bosses who aren’t afraid to speak their mind.
THG founder and CEO Matthew Moulding
THG co-founder and CEO Matthew Moulding has made many a headline for speaking his mind.
He’s blasted life as a London-listed company, which he said has “just sucked from start to finish” and often posts lengthy rants onto social media, taking aim at institutional investors, stockbrokers, analysts and the media.
Back in April, Moulding took to LinkedIn to call out the “standard practice” of hedge funds, media and bank analysts to build negative coverage against UK-listed companies, including THG.
The lengthy post quoted Alanis Morrisette and featured a company video with clips from popular cult films Wolf of Wall Street and American Psycho.
A month later, he called out the Financial Times and journalist Dan McCrum on its article surrounding audit concerns flagged in the company’s report, which Moulding said was a standard feature of all firm’s reporting.
Just this week he then went on to clash with New York-based hedge fund Quintessential Capital Management on Linkedin, as he criticised the UK’s public markets.
He reiterated his disapproval of the London Stock Exchange and targeted hedge funds, media outlets and bank analysts, which he accused of being behind unfavourable coverage of publicly traded companies, including his own.
Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker
Iceland boss Richard Walker has long been outspoken on a host of subjects, taking a stand on many social, environmental and political issues from sustainability to the cost-of-living crisis.
Last year he called on the Conservative Party to increase Universal Credit to £20 a week, describing the former Prime Minister’s Liz Truss’ priorities as “odd” as he spoke at the Conservative Party Conference.
In the same year he revealed plans to launch a bid to become a conservative MP and dismissed claims he would step down from his role if elected.
The executive chairman said the claims were “laughable” arguing that “plenty of MPs have second jobs”.
The move to become an MP makes sense as Walker, a regular on BBC Question Time, has long taken a stand on political issues and has not shied away of topics such as tax to the deportation of asylum seekers.
He has also taken active role as a campaigner, pushing the industry to adopt more sustainable and fairer practices.
Walker is currently campaigning to change advetising laws that currently ban retailers from promoting price reductions on baby formula products.
The appeal comes as the supermarket revealed it was cutting the price of 13 lines of branded infant formula by up to 20% for which he could face an unlimited fine.
Laws limit how formula can be sold to ensure that marketing does not discourage breastfeeding.
Frasers Group owner Mike Ashley
This list wouldn’t be complete without Mike Ashley, who may not be chief executive of Frasers Group anymore, but still holds the position of majority shareholder.
The billionaire, known for his dealmaking and drinking, has been embroiled in a host of scandals throughout the years, facing several shareholder rebellions and a public spats.
When JD Sports chief executive Dave Forsey departed in 2016, amid mounting criticism of Sports Direct’s working practices and corporate governance, Ashley stepped forward and faced several shareholder rebellions over his choice of chairman and the treatment of workers in the wake of a Guardian undercover investigation.
Another famous incident includes his very public spat with the owners of Debenhams, after Ashley spent £150m on a stake in the department store only to see it fall into administration.
He claimed that advisers to the department store should be jailed.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin is another executive who’s no stranger to speaking out on issues affecting the retail sector – and that of his business.
Following Gove’s rejection of the retailer’s redevelopment plans for its Marble Arch flagship that would see the Art Deco building demolished Machin called Gove’s decision “laughable” and “utterly pathetic”, adding that the ruling meant that he must now review its future on London’s Oxford Street, considered the prime retail location in the country.
Machin then went on to take aim at the current state of the London shopping street.
Prior to that Machin long aired his negative views on the current state of Oxford St, warning it risks becoming a “dinosaur district destined for extinction”.
In a growing row Gove over the redevelopment of the retailer’s flagship store, Machin said the famous shopping street is on “its knees” and falling prey to a “growing proliferation of tacky candy stores”.
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