Hugo Boss has appointed Mike Ashley’s son-in-law as chairman of its Supervisory Board, as Frasers continues to take greater influence over the German fashion company.

On 14 September, Stephan Sturm left Hugo Boss following “constructive discussions”. Now, Hugo Boss has said the appointment of Michael Murray follows the most recent changes in its shareholder structure.

Only last month, Frasers increased its stake in the luxury fashion brand to 48 per cent. The Sports Direct and Flannels owner now holds 47.89 per cent of Hugo Boss’s share capital and voting rights after shareholders tendered more than 12.1m shares into its takeover offer.

Murray said: “Hugo Boss is exceptionally well positioned, with two strong brands, a unique global footprint and significant untapped potential.

“By ensuring continuity and maintaining a clear long-term perspective, we will focus on unlocking the full potential of Hugo Boss and creating sustainable value for all shareholders and stakeholders.”

This increased attention for Hugo Boss comes as Frasers looked to grow its luxury retail portfolio.

Last month it acquired luxury department store Harvey Nichols out of administration for around £43m, taking control of its six UK stores, ecommerce operations and international franchise agreements.

However, this luxury spending spree has come at a cost, with Frasers’ total net debt rising from £941m to £1.26bn in the year to 26 April 2026.

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