New Look is understood to be in talks with former Matalan chief executive Alistair McGeorge about taking on the role of executive chairman at the beleaguered business.
Want to know more about New Look?
For detailed data and analysis of New Look visit Retail Week Knowledge Bank now
New Look is believed to have met with a number of key retailers including McGeorge about the role, following the departure of chairman John Gildersleeve and ousting of chief executive Carl McPhail last month.
Yesterday, New Look’s founder and interim chairman Tom Singh - who was drafted in to the business following McPhail’s departure - reinstated group design director Barbara Horspool as creative director. Weeks earlier, he overturned McPhail’s final decision to fire group buying director Roger Wightman.
It is understood that once Singh and private equity backers Apax and Permira decide upon a candidate for the executive chairman role, they will then consider whether to appoint a chief executive of the business.
Singh will continue to work on the chain’s product strategy.
McGeorge’s experience turning around a privately-owned value chain, places him as a frontrunner for the job. He was integral to a £500m refinancing of Matalan in April last year. Matalan axed a £1.5bn sale process just months before in February. He left the business in September.
New Look, which postponed plans to float last year, is unlikely to float until next year at the earliest.
New Look declined to comment.
No comments yet