Matalan makes key senior appointments

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.”