Fashion
Matalan makes key senior appointments
Published
October 6, 2025
Matalan has unveiled several senior leadership appointments within the product, brand and commercial team.
It said the moves “will see Matalan’s overall offer refreshed to deliver everyday style, quality and value for customers to help win market share and deliver [its] transformation”.
The UK and international fashion and homewares retailer also said its new senior hires deepen “its expertise in buying and design, trading and merchandising, customer and loyalty, and e-commerce”.
So, just whoa re the newcomers? Jo Bennett joins as Director of Buying & Design to lead the product and design strategy, coming from Tu clothing and John Lewis, where she led the Womenswear & Accessories business.
Jon Williams is now in the newly-created role of Director of Trading, Planning and Merchandising, with over 20 years’ multichannel retail experience from brands including John Lewis, Tesco and Primark.
Eilidh MacAskill has joined as Director of Marketing, bringing senior experience across retail and fashion journalism, including roles at Ocado, Asda and Monsoon Accessorize.
And Andreas Nicolaides as Director of Digital will drive Matalan’s omnichannel strategy, bringing extensive experience from N Brown, John Lewis and digital media agencies across the UK.
We’re told that these appointments “complement existing strengths across sourcing, quality, customer insight and data, creating a leadership team with the expertise and experience needed to deliver a step-change and win market share, particularly within womenswear”.
They follow the arrival of Sarah Welsh in the newly-created role of Chief Product, Brand and Commercial Officer earlier in the year, “which brought product, brand and commercial capabilities together within one team”.
Welsh said of the new team members: “Bringing together product, brand and commercial under one structure gives us the focus we need to relentlessly deliver the everyday style, quality and value our customer deserves. I am delighted to welcome the new team and look forward to inspiring our customer, innovating within our product and marketing and building our share in the market.
The changes just announced also follow the earlier news of a significant investment programme in Matalan’s store estate and supply chain, underpinned by the £25 million of additional funding secured from its anchor investors earlier this year.
Karl-Heinz Holland, Executive Chair of Matalan, said of all this: “We are making strong progress on our transformation plan. Combining product, brand and commercial capabilities has enabled us to put customers at the heart of everything we do and deliver on our promise to provide excellent quality, value and style. With fresh investment, a modernised store estate, invigorated product and the right talent across the business, we have both the strategy and means to grow our market share, attract new customers and deliver sustainable, profitable growth. I am proud of everything we’ve achieved so far on this journey.”
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Fashion
Vietnam interbank rates seen easing as credit growth cools
Economic momentum remained strong at the end of 2025, with real GDP expanding 8.4 per cent year on year (YoY) in the fourth quarter, the fastest pace in several years. Growth was driven by robust export-oriented industrial production. Credit growth surged to 19.4 per cent YoY by December, well above deposit growth of 14 per cent, SBV said in a release.
Vietnam’s interbank rates, which rose sharply in late 2025, are expected to ease in 2026 as credit growth and economic momentum cool.
GDP expanded 8.4 per cent year on year in Q4, while credit growth of 19.4 per cent outpaced deposits.
Despite a strong 2025, US tariff risks remain.
The SBV is likely to keep rates steady while targeting slower credit growth.
While Vietnam enters 2026 on a positive footing after achieving an estimated 8 per cent growth in 2025, external risks remain significant for the export-driven economy. Goods exports to the US, which account for around 30 per cent of the total, face the lagged impact of 20 per cent reciprocal tariffs, uncertainty over transshipment duties, and the risk of additional sectoral measures, including possible semiconductor levies.
Monetary authorities have signalled a cautious policy stance for 2026 despite an official GDP growth target of 10 per cent, which analysts view as difficult to achieve. Growth is expected to moderate to around 6.5 per cent, while the SBV has set a lower credit growth target of 15 per cent to limit overheating and resource misallocation risks.
The refinancing rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.50 per cent, though the possibility of an unexpected rate hike cannot be ruled out if liquidity strains persist.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fashion
Canada Goose reshuffles leadership to drive global growth
Fashion
Interjeans portfolio continues to expand with heritage brand Belstaff
Published
January 16, 2026
New addition at Interjeans: following last year’s arrival of German athletic-luxury brand Bogner, the San Marino-based company in Rovereta, founded in 1992 by Andrea Belletti, is expanding its brand portfolio and has outlined its growth plans to FashionNetwork.com.
“Last November we signed a distribution agreement for the Italian market with Belstaff: a storied brand with motorcycling roots, founded in England in 1924, which I am sure will be a must-have once again. For 2026 we expect encouraging results, driven in particular by this addition,” said Belletti.
“As for Interjeans, we are not considering any company-owned stores beyond the one in Riccione,” the manager continued. “We remain true to our roots, focusing on distribution, but we would like to develop a shop-in-shop format with key customers that would allow us greater control over the product assortment, layout and communication. We are currently present with Lyle & Scott and Superdry in Rinascente and Coin, via concessions, but we would like to extend this format to include Belstaff as well,” Belletti continued.
Interjeans, which closed 2025 with turnover of €39 million, distributes in Italy the brands G-Star Raw, Lyle & Scott, Dr Denim, Karl Lagerfeld (three lines), Bogner, O’Neill, the Greek womenswear brand BSB, and Superdry.
Julian Dunkerton, CEO of the British clothing brand he founded in 2003 in Cheltenham—a label that blends American preppy-vintage style with English elegance—presented the new Superdry collection. It stands out for its clean lines, perfect balance and refined functionality.
Speaking to FashionNetwork.com, the entrepreneur revealed he is very pleased with the results achieved after a major reorganisation.
Dunkerton described it as a “massive shake-up” that has returned the company to profit.
“We have worked hard on the collections and distribution, reviewed the structure, and delisted from the stock market. Today, I feel we are on the right path: there is consistency and a clear awareness of who we are. Our presence at Pitti is fundamental; it is the most important international event in the industry and for us it truly represents the place to be. Next year, I would like to double the size of our space and bring our womenswear offer to Florence as well, which now accounts for 50 per cent of the total. In addition, we plan to open 24 Superdry stores in 2026 with a completely revamped store format that emphasises our British heritage and offers a lighter, brighter, higher-quality aesthetic. We will operate through both franchise agreements and direct management, predominantly in the UK,” concluded the Superdry founder.
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