Shop Direct has hired the former chief technology officer of Sky Betting & Gaming into the same role.
Andy Burton will join the business in May from The Stars Group, where he became a director following the company’s merger with Sky Betting & Gaming in 2018.
Burton was at Sky for nine years, growing its technology headcount from 18 to 700 and establishing in-house development capabilities.
He will lead a 275-person technology team at Shop Direct as it bids to transform its platforms and technology.
Shop Direct, which was previously a star performer in the retail sector, swung to a loss in its most recent year. This was driven my customers pursuing PPI claims but profits were up on measures including EBITDA. Sales inched up 1.5% with growth engine Very being held back by Littlewoods. Over the past four months, it has placed 375 roles into consultation.
Internal promotions
The business has also promoted its former head of IT architecture and engineering Karl Wintrell to technology director. Wintrell will lead data science and strategy having been with the business for nearly six years.
Interim chief technology officer JM Domaingue will also take up the role of technology director, leading operations including information security.
Wintrell and Domaingue will jointly oversee the technology team prior to his arrival.
Group chief executive Henry Birch said: “Technology underpins everything we do at Shop Direct. It helps us deliver the online experience and end-to-end journey that keeps our customers coming back to Very and Littlewoods time and time again. It was always our ambition to appoint a heavy-hitting CTO to our board and Andy certainly fits the bill.”
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