Dixons Carphone's new boss Alex Baldock radically overhauls top team

Baldock, the former boss of Shop Direct who took the helm earlier this month, is scrapping the retailer’s existing separate UK & Ireland and group executive teams, and is replacing them with one new, leaner leadership team – the group executive committee (ExCo).

ExCo is aimed at “reducing layers of complexity” at the top and speeding up operations. It is also geared towards powering up the retailer’s services division, “by getting rid of unhelpful silos”.

The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for May 3. Baldock said it will “start at once finding ways to speed up decision-making, and start working at pace to set a direction for the business”.

Further departures

As a result of the restructure, group strategy director Andrew Lawley, chief marketing officer Neil Hollins and services chief executive Keith Jones will all exit the retailer next month.

It follows a slew of top-level exits. Earlier this month, UK and Ireland boss Katie Bickerstaffe unveiled plans to step down and take up a new role at energy firm SSE.

Chief finance officer Humphrey Singer is leaving the firm in July to join M&S.

Customer focus

Baldock said he wants to give the customer “a louder voice”.

To this end, he has appointed Antreas Athanassopoulos as Dixons Carphone’s first chief customer officer.

Athanassopoulos is currently boss of the group’s Greek business and will take up the new post on May 8.

He will be responsible for the design of everything offered to customers, including services, marketing, financial services, digital and IT functions, and will work closely with chief commercial officer Steve Ager.

Meanwhile, Alan Ritchie will lead the group’s customer-facing operations, including stores, supply chain, delivery, repairs and contact centres.

Jeremy Fennell will continue to lead the transformation of Carphone Warehouse.

Baldock’s new ExCo

Baldock outlined the shape of the new committee, describing it as a “formidable team”.

Ager, Ritchie and Fennell have all been promoted to ExCo, along with Felix Stauber, who will lead the combined group and the UK and Ireland strategy and transformation teams.

Rob Garner will join ExCo as HR director, along with new group chief finance officer Jonny Mason.

International chief executive Jaan-Ivar Semlitsch will also form part of ExCo, along with Assad Malic – director of group investor relations, PR and corporate affairs.

Baldock said: “With our many strengths – strengths competitors can only dream of – we’re in the box seat to help millions of customers discover and enjoy the exciting (but confusing and expensive) world of technology.

“I believe that this business’s best days lie ahead – as does much hard work.”