As Retail Week revealed earlier today, another digital talent, this time in the form of New Look’s Sally Heath, is set to leave the industry.

Heath is leaving New Look to help grow her husband’s rapidly expanding make-up business, TAM Beauty.

Her departure follows that of the retailer’s digital director Jack Smith in September.

And it’s not just at New Look that digital talent is beating a hasty retreat.

This year has seen Andy Harding depart the troubled House of Fraser, Robin Terrell leave Tesco and Shop Direct group customer director Dene Jones exit the etailer.

Tellingly, none of them have re-appeared at rival retailers so far. Should the industry be concerned about this apparent digital brain drain?

Also today, McColls full-year like-for-likes dropped, DFS dropped out of FTSE 250, Aldi managing director Tony Baines revealed he will retire next year and losses widened and sales dropped at Karen Millen. 

Quote of the day

“The labour market is changing very quickly: self-employment, uncertain hours, insecure short-term contracts and gig work are becoming ever more prevalent. We will be investigating the extent to which the welfare system can adapt to these challenges and what may need to change.”

Work and pensions committee chair Frank Field MP on the launch of an inquiry into the gig economy, likely to cover firms such as Amazon and Hermes

Today in numbers

4

DFS is one of four businesses to exit the FTSE 250 listing, dropping down to the Small Cap Index in a quarterly reshuffle.

Tomorrow’s agenda

There’s not much going on in terms of updates tomorrow, but do keep a look out for our exclusive video interview with Labour MP and former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna.

Becky Waller-Davies, fashion reporter

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