Department store group Fenwick has appointed a new chief executive as it prepares for the next business phase, Retail Week can reveal.
Fenwick has drafted in department stores veteran Nigel Blow to the role, succeeding John Edgar who has left after almost five years in charge.
Blow is currently chief executive of London-based department store business Morleys. He will take up the Fenwick post in October and brings experience from department stores Arnotts and Brown Thomas in the Republic of Ireland, both of which he ran, and Harrods where he was chief merchant.
In addition to Edgar, Retail Week understands other senior Fenwick staff including its people director and retail director have also left. The retailer is expected to confirm new high-level roles in the autumn.
Fenwick chair Sian Westerman said: “John Edgar is stepping down as CEO as part of a reorganisation of our executive leadership team and wider changes to the management structure of the company.
“We are excited for Nigel to join us, bringing with him a wealth of retail experience, and we know he is ready to help lead Fenwick into the next stage of its growth.”
Westerman paid tribute to Edgar for his contribution to Fenwick. She said: “John has successfully steered the business through the Covid-19 pandemic, launched our online proposition, enhanced and expanded our restaurant business, focused on the development of key stores, including a Masterplan project in Newcastle and significant improvements to the Kingston store. We appreciate John’s contribution and wish him every success for the future.”
Fenwick is the UK’s biggest family-owned department store group in the UK, trading through eight stores and online.
Last year, Fenwick sold its shop on London’s Bond Street to reinvest in its Newcastle flagship and digital business.
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