JD group trading director Nick Preston to leave

Preston will leave JD at the end of the month after two years at the retail group. He joined the young fashion giant in November 2010 working across all JD Sports Fashion fascias.

JD chairman Peter Cowgill said that the agreement between Preston and JD was “mutual” and had been decided some time ago due to the business moving in a “different direction”.

Cowgill said there is no replacement for Preston’s role at the moment.

Preston is set to join Glint on June 6 as trading director. London-based Glint, which owns and manages consumer product brands, is owned by Fung Capital, the private investment vehicle of the Fung family, which separately controls the Li & Fung group, a Hong Kong based fashion supplier.

Its brand portfolio includes iconic Savile Row brand Hardy Amies and Royal designer label Norman Hartnell. The company licenses these brands to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers across a range of product categories.

Prior to JD, Preston was brand manager at young fashion chain Republic for five and a half years before leaving in June 2010. He joined Republic from department store chain House of Fraser, where he worked in a menswear buying role. He has also previously worked at Harvey Nichols.

News of Preston’s departure comes just weeks after Paul Drew, buying controller at JD-owned menswear chain Cecil Gee and head of internet buying at JD, left the business. Drew has since been appointed UK country manager at denim brand Denham.