Up-to-date coverage of the latest events in UK retail.

4:35pm Fat Face poaches former Jack Wills exec for global role

Face Face has poached Jack Wills’ multichannel director to head up its global division, as the fashion brand’s new chief executive reshuffles her senior team. 

The retailer announced yesterday that Mark Wright would be joining the brand on June 3 to take on the role of global operations director. Currently managing director of multichannel at the fashion retailer, Wright also previously worked for Marks & Spencer. 

In a joint announcement, Fat Face also said it had promoted Kate Brown to the newly created role of product director with immediate effect. Brown has been with the business since 2014, having joined from Monsoon. 

New boss Liz Evans said: “I am delighted to be able to announce these significant changes within the top team. Kate’s promotion is testimony to the great talent within the business and I am delighted to welcome Mark to Fat Face.” 

7:23am French Connection to revive FCUK campaign

French Connection is set to revive its FCUK campaign in a unisex capsule collection designed in collaboration with Urban Outfitters.

The brand created the iconic FCUK collection in 1997 but dropped it in 2005 after its popularity waned. The new collection follows the revival of brands such as Fila and Kappa, which have been brought back thanks to a rise in popularity of 1990s trends.

The collection includes t shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts but is only available in the US. 

7:12am Burberry scraps plans for Leeds trenchcoat factory

Burberry will no longer manufacture its trenchcoats in Leeds, binning its £50m plan to invest in UK manufacturing, reports the Guardian.

The move would have created 200 jobs and allowed it to triple its UK production run of 5,000 coats per week. The luxury group currently runs two factories, staffed by 800 employees, in Castleford and Keighley.

The scheme, dubbed Project Artisan, was the brainchild of Burberry’s former chief executive and creative officer Christopher Bailey. However the business’ enthusiasm waned as it considered the effects of the UK’s vote to leave the EU.