Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman has scotched speculation that he would leave the retailer following the appointment of Angela Spindler as managing director.
The decision to create Spindler’s board-level role has prompted observers to speculate whether the former head of Asda’s George clothing business was being groomed as Templeman’s potential successor.
Templeman told Retail Week that Spindler’s hiring would not lead to any senior departures and would strengthen the board.
“Nothing has changed,” Templeman said, referring to his pledge to remain as Debenhams’ chief executive for three years following its float in May 2006.
Spindler, who will join in February, will report to Templeman and be responsible for “the future development of the Debenhams brand, as well as marketing, visual and creative and the company’s fast-growing online business”.
“It is good news for Debenhams,” Templeman said. “It is partly because four or five different areas of the business have been reporting to Michael [Sharp, chief operating officer] or myself.”
He said that Spindler would help Debenhams achieve plans to grow its online business “much faster” than originally thought. “We want to make online the biggest store over the next two to three years,” he said.
The retailer, which has issued a string of profit warnings this year and recorded a 5 per cent like-for-like slump in the year to September, has most recently been plagued by gossip about banking covenant breaches and debt renegotiations. It has also been accused of being starved of investment under private equity ownership.
In her role as George global managing director, Spindler was responsible for all aspects of the brand, including international development. She unexpectedly left in August, citing family reasons for her departure.
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