Debenhams recruits former BA exec as chief marketing officer

Comber will take up her new role at the struggling department store retailer later this month.

She joins the retailer after a 24-year stint at BA, where she held a range of roles spanning brand strategy, marketing and sponsorship, culminating as head of customer experience and global head of brands and marketing. During her time at the airline, Comber led BA’s sponsorship of the UK teams at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

Since leaving BA in 2018, she has held interim appointments at Oyster Yachts and L3 Technologies.

Debenhams chief executive Stefaan Vansteenkiste said: “We are delighted that Abigail is joining Debenhams.

“Her track record speaks for itself and her experience and understanding of customer engagement and developing digital service initiatives will be particularly important as we continue to work on transforming Debenhams into a business that can compete effectively in the rapidly changing retail environment. I look forward to her joining our senior team and playing a key part in delivering the turnaround of the group.”

Comber added: “With 19 million customers in the UK in stores and online, the opportunity to play an important part in developing Debenhams’ customer proposition for the next decade is really exciting. I am delighted to be joining Stefaan and the team to help build a successful future for one of the UK’s best-known retail businesses.”