Chief executive and retail strategy boss leave London department store
The Mohamed Al Fayed-owned luxury London department store Harrods has parted company with yet another batch of top executives.

Harrods confirmed that both chief executive Richard Simonin and retail strategy and organisation director Eric Decouvelaere have exited the business.

Simonin's departure comes after just 18 months in the top job and follows in the footsteps of a stream of senior executives. He lasted longer than his predecessor Max Rigelman, who sat in the hot seat for little more than a month before returning home to the US.

Evolution analyst Nick Bubb said: 'The constant revolving door at Harrods' top-level management must be very destabilising for staff and suppliers.'

Simonin joined in July 2003 from European womenswear designer Escada, where he served on the management board. His departure comes at a time of relative success for 150-year-old department store. It proclaimed that Christmas sales were the highest in the store's history. In the year to January 31, last year, Harrods said pre-tax profits rose from£7 million to£19.9 million on sales for£472.5 million.

'We confirm that both Richard Simonin and Eric Decouvelaere no longer work for Harrods,' said a spokesman in a brief statement. 'We have no further comment to make.'

Topics