Next group sales, marketing and HR director Jane Shields is set to step down from the retailer after 40 years.

Shields is due to retire from the company on 21 May. She joined Next as a sales assistant in 1985, before being promoted to sales director in 1999, group sales and marketing director in 2010 and was appointed to the board in 2013.

Next online customer service director Matt Barnes will be promoted to the role of group sales and marketing director and will take on the majority of Shields’ operational remit, including ecommerce, brand marketing, retail stores and online customer services.    

Barnes will not be joining the board at this stage, Next said.

The news comes after Next saw stronger than anticipated revenues during the Christmas period.

Full price sales grew 10.6% over the nine weeks to 27 December compared to 2024, putting them ahead of its guidance for the quarter of 7%.

Full price UK sales increased by 5.9% over the festive period, as international revenues climbed 38.3%.

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