Darren Topp, who has left his role as M&S’s divisional executive for Wales and the Southwest after 22 years at the retail giant, is likely to start in June. Tony Brown, the existing retail director, will remain at the Sir Philip Green-owned chain until the end of May.
At M&S, Topp reported to the company’s retail director and was responsible for the performance of a broad swathe of shops, including its flagships at Bath, Culverhouse near Cardiff, Reading, Camberley and Cribbs Causeway. He is among a number of executives to have recently left M&S, including head of store design Niall Trafford (Retail Week, March 20).
At Bhs, Topp’s duties will be similar to that of Brown’s, who has been closely involved with the evolution of the British Home Stores standalone homewares format that launched in Chichester two years ago. The latest evidence of the format’s progress can be found at Manchester’s Barton Square development, where Bhs opened a 24,000 sq ft homewares shop last month (Retail Week, last week).
Brown has also been heavily involved in the refurbishment of the core Bhs chain. 19 stores received a make-over last year, although the pace now appears to have slowed.
For the year to March 31, 2007, Bhs recorded a 3 per cent sales rise in operating profit to£50 million on sales up 1.4 per cent to£872.5 million, according to accounts filed at Companies House. It is understood Bhs has found trading challenging since then.
Retail Knowledge Bank senior partner Robert Clark said: “Like many retailers, I think it is struggling at the moment. Its homewares format, while worthy, is quite difficult to shop.
Brown leaves Bhs to become managing director of troubled department store Beales on June 1.
Bhs owner Sir Philip Green will be speaking at the World Retail Congress in Barcelona next week. Visit: worldretailcongress.com.
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