Charles Tyrwhitt has promoted chief operating officer Rebecca Howat to managing director as part of a leadership shake-up at the Jermyn Street shirt maker.

The move follows a recent restructure at parent company Bectin, which saw former Charles Tyrwhitt chief executive Luke Kingsnorth become group chief executive of the business, which also owns The White Company.

Charles Tyrwhitt has renamed Kingsnorth’s previous chief executive title as managing director.

Howat has worked at the retailer for nearly 13 years, having joined in 2013 from Arcadia Group as head of merchandising.

She has since held several senior roles across merchandising, supply chain, the contact centre and third-party sales channels, before becoming chief operating officer in 2020.

Kingsnorth said Howat “knows Charles Tyrwhitt inside out, brings huge commercial and operational experience, and has a real understanding of what it takes to lead the business”.

Howat said she was looking forward to “leading the business into its next chapter”.

Charles Tyrwhitt was founded in 1986 by Nick Wheeler while he was studying at the University of Bristol, after becoming frustrated by the cost of good-quality shirts.

The retailer opened its first store on Jermyn Street in 1997 and has since grown into one of the UK’s largest founder-led, privately owned retailers.

It now employs more than 1,100 people across 43 UK stores, 12 stores in the US and around 40 franchise locations worldwide.

Bectin also owns The White Company, the upmarket homeware and clothing retailer founded by Wheeler’s wife, Chrissie Rucker.

Group turnover at Bectin rose five per cent to £637m in its latest financial year, according to Companies House.

However, performance across its two brands was mixed. Charles Tyrwhitt’s profits doubled to £42.8m as sales rose 13 per cent to £347m, while profits at The White Company fell from £20.3m to £2.2m and turnover dropped 4 per cent to £290m.

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