The Retail 100 is here: Industry’s most inspiring individuals celebrated
Retail Week’s annual celebration of the sector’s top 100 leaders driving culture, purpose and profits is back – but not as you know it. This year it’s an index not a ranking, recognising people champions, disruptors, sustainability activists and more
In association with Bolt, Braze, Fourth and Webhelp
Who are the country’s top 100 c-suite leaders transforming the sector, shaking up traditional retail models and being a voice for industry?
Look no further than the Retail 100.
Determined by Retail Week’s team of experienced journalists, the Retail 100, once known as The Power List, is an annual celebration of the sector’s most influential individuals. It has traditionally operated as a 1-100 ranking; however, to reflect a shift from outdated hierarchical power, this year we have removed the rankings to focus on retail leaders across six important categories.
View the Retail 100 2022 here
With 36 new entries and 27 female and non-binary leaders celebrated, the Retail 100 is more diverse than ever before in its 17-year history.
The Retail 100 for 2022, published today by Retail Week in association with Bolt, Braze, Fourth and Webhelp, have been recognised for their efforts in the following ways:
- The Sustainability Activists – those actively progressing ESG agendas and leading by example, not merely paying lip service to sustainability
- The People Champions – retail leaders that are voices for the industry, actively campaigning for retail staff, promoting inclusivity, and driving culture and purpose
- The Dealmakers – whether it is acquisitions, partnerships or third-party tie-ups, these are the retail leaders collaborating for success
- The Strategists – the retail bosses driving significant change in a variety of different ways, from adopting new channels and technologies to new ways of thinking
- The Disruptors – the individuals disrupting traditional retail models and shaking up industries, keeping the sector on its toes
- The Experience Innovators – those driving innovation in the experience economy and reigniting the thrill of shopping
New faces
The Retail 100 boasts a 125% uplift in new entries (36, compared with 16 in 2021). This is a result of Retail Week seeking to identify and drive awareness of the leaders of burgeoning disruptive brands, and individuals really driving the change behind the headlines.
New entrants include Adam Frisby, founder and chief brand officer of In The Style, whose strategy of platform investment, app-driven loyalty (the app accounts for 55% of the pureplay retailer’s total sales) and international growth has seen him scale his fashion business from launch in 2013 to a £105m stock market debut in March 2021.
Other new faces include Hirestreet and Zoa founder and chief executive Isabella West, recognised for her role in supporting retailers such as M&S and Decathlon to enter the second-hand economy, and Harvey Nichols chief executive Manju Malhotra, who has expanded her influence beyond her day job by promoting inclusivity widely across business through ambassador and NED roles.
Adam Frisby, founder and chief brand officer, In The Style
Adam Frisby, founder and chief brand officer, In The Style
Manju Malhotra, chief executive, Harvey Nichols
Manju Malhotra, chief executive, Harvey Nichols
Jack Monroe, anti-poverty campaigner, writer and journalist
Jack Monroe, anti-poverty campaigner, writer and journalist
Greater diversity
There is a 35% increase in female and non-binary representation in the Retail 100 this year (27, up from 20 in 2021). This is in part due to expanding the focus of the list to recognise more individuals across categories, but also in extending out the remit to celebrate not only chief executives but other c-suite leaders. These include, for example, Currys chief people officer Paula Coughlan for her role in spearheading the retailer’s hybrid working strategy and driving up staff pay.
Outside of retail executives, the Retail 100 also recognises the work of those individuals using their voices for good. This includes anti-poverty campaigner, writer and journalist Jack Monroe who has made retailers such as Asda and Superdrug stand to attention.
Shilpi Narang, vice-president for customer experience at online payment and checkout platform Bolt, a partner of Retail 100, commented: “Congratulations to all the individuals named in the Retail 100 2022. Whatever the challenge, these leaders have shown courage and adaptability while navigating a constantly changing market environment.
“We wanted to give a platform to those individuals having a genuine and purposeful influence on central issues – from people and culture to sustainability and innovation”
“We applaud them for transforming retail, choosing a path of innovation and setting a benchmark for all of us to follow.”
Retail Week editor Luke Tugby added: “By removing rankings, we wanted this year’s edition to give a platform to those individuals having a genuine and purposeful influence on thinking and decision-making on central issues impacting retail – from people and culture to sustainability and innovation.”
Meet UK retail’s most inspiring individuals. Access your free Retail 100 report here. You will also discover the Retail 100 ones to watch – 16 names that Retail Week predicts will be at the helm of UK retailers in the next few years or are already leading a burgeoning retailer or brand set to become an even bigger name.
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