Retail Movers & Shakers The top 100 Report 2019
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Retail Movers & Shakers The top 100 Report 2019 The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
Welcome Glynn Davis
Retailinsider.com
Welcome to the latest annual ‘Retail Insider Top 100 Movers & Shakers in Retail’ report that is proud twitter @glynndavis
to celebrate its 10th Anniversary and again highlight the achievements of those individuals who are
successfully bringing digital into their respective businesses.
The industry continues to forward organisations. Ocado, massively valuable in bringing
change at a rapid pace and it is Amazon, Farfetch and Gymshark their unique perspective into
now recognised by all established feature prominently and show play. This has ensured the
retailers that they must undergo which way the retail wind is rigorous methodology we apply
a transformation of some form blowing. to its production was again
or other if they are to bring maintained this year. I would like
themselves up to the standard The objective of the report has to thank them for their important
of the newer players who have been to find those people who contribution.
entered the sector over recent are setting the pace within this
years. changing retail landscape. The A very big thank-you also goes to
sort of people who are remaking K3 for its continued sponsorship
This year’s list very much the industry for a new era where of the Movers & Shakers report
highlights how the industry the old models are fast becoming and its dedication to highlighting
has so dramatically changed. redundant. the best talent in the industry.
In the top 20 there is only one This Anniversary edition shows
business that would be described To help Retail Insider undertake just how exciting the retail sector
as a traditional stores-based this tough task it has again relied is and what is possible.
retailer, Hotel Chocolat, while the on the skills of an experienced
remainder are very much digital- Advisory Panel who have been
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
Methodology
Over the past year a wide range of experts from across different disciplines within the retail industry have been consulted to help draw
up an initial long list of potential constituents of the Top 100 for 2019.
These individuals comprised consultants, The Top 50 names was then given to each of and Non-executive Directors’, which has
technology vendors, service providers, the Panel members to score privately on a been retained because of the view that this
recruitment specialists, senior retail number of important criteria – achievement is an increasingly important and valued part
executives, advisors and City analysts over the last 12 months, potential future of the retail industry.
whose expertise encompassed all aspects achievement, customer engagement,
of the sector. digital capability and innovative capability. Also make a note of those with a OTW mark,
By collating these scores a ranked Top 50 list they are ‘One to Watch’ and we believe they
The carefully selected Advisory Panel then was created. may just be some of the brightest sparks
helped to reduce this long list down to a Top this sector has to offer.
100 names and from within this grouping This year has seen a further refinement to
they selected a Top 50. The Panel is chosen the list with non-retailers in the Top 100
on the basis of their combined knowledge being incorporated into the main list rather
and expertise covering every part of the than having their own sections. The only
retail industry. separate grouping remaining is for ‘Investors
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019The Movers & Shakers Top 100 Advisory Panel
Anthony Fletcher | CEO | Graze.com Daniel Bobroff | founder | Coded Futures
Anthony took up the CEO role at Graze in December 2012 after Daniel is the founder of Coded Futures, a creative technology advisory
serving as UK managing director and chief marketing officer at firm focused on retail, as well as being a special advisor & head of
the healthy snacks company, beginning in 2009. He has used the retail at High Tech Engineering Center (HTEC). This follows a two-
marketing and product skills he honed while at Innocent Drinks to year period as co-founder & investment director at Asos Ventures.
build the Graze business and take it into retail stores and venture Daniel is also a leading speaker on the topic of retail technology and
into the US market. Anthony successfully led the business’s sale to is a board member of True Fit Corporation and Detego.
Unilever.
Alison Lancaster | interim marketing strategist |The Bicester
Indira Thambiah | senior advisor | Roof Maker Village Shopping Collection
Indira is currently a senior advisor at Roof Maker, where she was Alison’s current role is interim marketing strategist at Bicester
previously CEO, and also advises VentureFounders and runs Silly Village, which follows a period as digital marketing direct at Fanatics,
Point Wines. She previously spent two years as managing director of and chief customer officer at House of Fraser. She is massively
luxury bathroom retailer C P Hart. She has a strong track record from experienced in the digital and marketing areas with a career that
Home Retail Group, DSG Group and Zulily. has encompassed time at numerous retailers including Bonmarche,
White Stuff, Feather & Black, Harrods, Charles Tyrwhitt, Bravissimo
David Kohn | customer & e-commerce director | Heal’s and John Lewis.
David heads up the customer & e-commerce division of department
store Heal’s where he is a director. He calls on a vast amount of Melissa Reed | partner & head of global retail practice | H.I.
experience gained from time spent at Borders, Waterstones, and Executive Consulting
Snow+Rock. He is also a consultant specialising in multi-channel Melissa leads the global retail practice at H.I. Executive Consulting
strategies. (formerly Heads International). She works with UK and global retailers
building exceptional teams at board level. Her early career in retail
gives her great insight into the issues facing her clients and much of
her work is helping clients steer businesses through transformation to
help them achieve their strategic objectives. She was previously part
of the global consumer markets practice at Korn Ferry.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019The Movers & Shakers Top 100 Advisory Panel
John Bovill | executive consultant digital and technology | All Saints Tony Bryant | director of global business development | K3
John has many years of retail experience most recently at All Saints. He has been the retail face of K3 business for over 10 years, building
This followed a spell as chief digital officer at WHL Australasia. In significant relationships in the market and getting K3 recognised
September 2017 he joined the group’s regional executive committee as one of the ‘go to’ retail partners in Microsoft and the wider
with responsibility for digital strategy across its David Jones partner community. With a formidable reputation as an influential
and Country Road Group. Prior to that John worked at Monsoon strategic thinker who influences yet tactically executes and is able to
Accessorize as IT and e-commerce director, at Jacques Vert Group contribute to the broader business debate.
Ltd as commercial director, and at Aurora Fashions.
Sarah McVittie | co-founder | Dressipi
Simon Calver | head of Ventures investment | BGF Sarah is co-founder of fashion prediction platform Dressipi that has
Simon became a founding partner of BGF Ventures in 2015 to launch built up a roster of leading retailers as clients. She has been a leading
a new £200 million early stage venture company, investing up to £6 force in the tech industry for over 15 years that began with her
million in leading tech entrepreneurs across the UK. He is now Head building her first award-winning business SMS Q&A service Texperts
of Investments for Ventures and early stage and sits on many boards that was inspired by her first job working as an analyst at investment
including Gousto, where he was previously chairman, as well as bank UBS. Texperts was sold in 2008 in a multi-million-pound deal.
Global App Testing and Firefly Learning. He was previously CEO of
Mothercare and LOVEFiLM which he joined after spending his earlier Guy Hipwell | advisor and investor
career at the likes of Dell and Unilever. Guy has over 25 years’ worth of experience in the retail sector. An
early starter in digital, he has been involved in online retailing since
Hannah Joyce | partner | Calibre One the late 1990’s working at the likes of Harrods, Liberty and C&A. Now
Hannah is a partner at digital executive search firm Calibre One and very much a plural executive he works with a multitude of businesses
brings over a decade of experience focusing on digital, marketing, across all sectors providing mentoring and advisory services and is
commercial leadership and digital transformation searches. She the founder of digital advisory board The Table Partnership.
previously led the Internet and Digital practice for Odgers Berndtson
and more recently she was part of the Global Technology & Consumer Additional special thanks to:
practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Joanna Perry | global head of marketing | Practicology
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Retail – but not as we know it Denise Davidson
Retail Advocate | K3
This year more than ever we are seeing the rules of retail being thrown out of the window and redefined. denise.davidson@k3btg.com
Retail as we knew it has been Shakers report as essential report who are embracing the
twitter @K3_Denise
well and truly shaken up and reading for anyone involved in digital age head on, innovating
continues to evolve at an the retail sector. The detailed in ways so far removed from
incredible pace. As we celebrate insight provided is invaluable conventional retailing.
our 10th anniversary sponsoring and highlights with great clarity
the Retail insider Retail Movers & those who are doing it their way I’d love to hear your views on this
Shakers, I reflect on the intention and succeeding. year’s report and look forward to
of the Movers & Shakers. The some lively discussion!
brainchild of Glynn Davis – it I would like to personally thank
was always intended to identify Glynn and the Advisory Panel
those individuals who were of experts who bring with them
making a difference in retail, over a wealth of knowledge and
the 10 years no one could have expertise as well as much heated
foreseen just how much the retail debate discussing who would be
landscape has been transformed. in the final top 100.
Whilst some might say I As always, the final words of
am biased, I would strongly thanks must go to all those who
recommend the Movers & make up the Movers & Shakers
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50 The final top 50 have been selected and ranked by the Advisory Panel based on innovation, performance over the last 12 months, potential future performance, customer engagement, future business leader potential, and multi-channel strategy. 01 02 03 Tim Steiner | CEO + Paul Clarke | CTO | Ocado Luke Jensen | CEO + Simon Thompson | chief Doug Gurr | country MD UK + Ajay Kavan | VP Under Steiner’s guidance Ocado continues product officer | Ocado Solutions international special projects | Amazon to build its reputation as a powerhouse of UK Jensen joined Ocado in 2017 as the CEO of its Gurr was able to report that the UK Prime innovation, which may hold the answer to many Solutions business that comprised the Ocado membership hit 15 million members this year – a global retailers’ dreams of seamless online food Smart Platform (OSP) technology. This was being milestone which shows that his understanding of trading and delivery. After many years of low promoted by the Ocado management as the how to expand Amazon in the UK remains undimmed. City expectations the ever-optimistic Steiner white label solution for food retailers globally and New developments call on the expertise of Kavan. has finally been able to announce new retail was clearly regarded as the driver of Ocado’s long- They have included a series of high street pop- partnerships including Australian grocer Coles term prospects. Jensen has been fundamental to ups throughout the country showcasing Amazon and Kroger in the US. This progress is based on the bringing this strategy to life through the striking suppliers, a new deal with Next to allow customers pioneering work undertaken by Clarke who has of deals with major name supermarkets around to pick up their deliveries from the retailer’s stores, created one of the most effective digital teams in the world. A key member of his team is Thompson and the investment in Deliveroo show that Gurr and retail building cutting edge robotics solutions. who joined from HSBC in April 2018. Kavan are still full of ideas. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
Movers & Shakers Top 50 04 05 06 Jose Neves | founder & CEO + Andrew Robb | COO Ben Francis | founder + Steve Hewitt | CEO | John Lyttle | CEO + Jo Graham | CIO | Boohoo. + Stephanie Phair | chief strategy officer | Farfetch Gymshark com Farfetch continues to make serious headway in the Online sportswear brand Gymshark continues Lyttle only began his tenure at Boohoo.com in luxury online sector with various new initiatives to deliver increases in revenues remarkable March of 2019 having joined after spending eight on sustainability, the launch of the first Store of by anyone’s standards but a measure of how years at value chain Primark. The fashion retail the Future augmented retail pilot with Chanel, much value Gymshark’s customers place in specialist will be looking to develop the company’s further global expansion, and the deal to handle young founder Francis’ influencer-led marketing scalable multi-brand platform so it can continue Harrods’ online activities. Robb’s remit of rolling approach. In March the company confirmed plans to disrupt and capitalise on the global opportunity. out expansion plans and Phair’s of being in charge to build its first gym and innovation hub, which Jo Graham has only been in post since May 2019 of innovation, M&A, and corporate development will be a base for Gymshark’s creative teams, and is a relative retail newcomer. She will look after with responsibility for new business lines add providing zones to try and test new ideas and technology for the Boohoo.com, BoohooMan, significantly to the original vision of Neves who products. Sportswear veteran Hewitt joined in and Nasty Gal brands. Her previous retail role was remains a disruptive influence and driving force of 2015 to add an experienced pair of hands and will CIO of Morrisons. the business. Robb is to leave the business in early oversee the proposed expansion into 25 country 2020. specific online stores by 2020. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
Movers & Shakers Top 50
07 08 09
Philippe Chainieux | CEO | Made Matthew Moulding | CEO + Lucy Gorman | CEO | Kevin Cornils | MD of international | Peloton
Chainieux has been both COO and CEO during his MyProtein – The Hut Group Cornils has been at fitness start-up Peloton for
six years at the online furniture and home-wares Barely a week passes by without an announcement nearly two years having gained previous early
retailer Made. His influence showed in results of a deal by The Hut Group and pushing this growth stage experience including building Match.com
released in 2019 that showed record total revenue is its founder and CEO Moulding who’s drive can into the leading European online dating brand and
of £173 million up 37% year-on-year. Chainieux create a challenging and relentless environment. constructing Glasses Direct/MyOptique into the
has also overseen the development of the bricks In June THG took a site in Manchester to provide a largest European online eyewear business. He is
and mortar showrooms for Made complete showcase for its impressive array of products sold responsible for the roll-out of the fitness brand in
with up to the minute tech features – alongside via several hundred different websites. Moulding the UK, which involves live streaming of fitness.
planned European expansion into Italy, Sweden, has a proven technique of acquiring his way into
Denmark and Portugal through 2019. new markets online, which gave the beauty and
wellness company revenues of £916 million in
2018. One of the most important acquisitions was
MyProtein which has been headed up by Gorman
since April 2018.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
10 11 12
Maria Raga | CEO | Depop Ross Bailey | founder | Appear Here Angus Thirlwell | CEO | Hotel Chocolat
Spaniard Raga joined person-to-person resale Bailey’s Appear Here burst onto the commercial As the CEO and co-founder of the vertically
site Depop in 2014 as VP of operations and was rental scene as a very disruptive force in 2012 integrated chocolate company Thirlwell is the very
moved to the top job after only a year. She arrived to bring together a community of brands, public face of Hotel Chocolat, which continues to
after spending four years at Groupon. Raga has entrepreneurs and creatives to empty space in go from strength to strength – most recent figures
been very keen on increasing the sustainability cities around the world. He has led the company to show 14% uplift in revenues and a promised big
of the site even further and monetising the open three regional offices in property hotspots expansion into Japan and the US. A long history of
trend data that its users provide with an ongoing and has helped make the pop-up an everyday innovation and development under his chocolate-
focus on Gen Z consumers as well as nurturing reality for brands trying to connect with the obsessed leadership mean that the company is
the design talent of some of the site’s growing consumer in a digital age. His latest innovation always offering something new from chocolate
number of sellers. is to seek to take on leases for entire department bonds to raise money for the Velvetiser, the in-home
stores marking a significant change of strategy. hot chocolate making device.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
13 14 15
Nick Beighton | CEO | Asos Federico Marchetti | CEO + Alison Loehnis | Anthony Fletcher | CEO | Graze.com
One of the big online success stories until very president of In-season – YNAP After learning all about innovation at Innocent Drinks,
recently, Beighton is facing a period of uncertainty Marchetti has created an online luxury powerhouse Fletcher came to the healthy snacks retailer Graze
for the fast fashion retailer following news of and as the business continues to grow it is on back in 2009. He worked his way to the top job, which he
redundancies in his London headquarters and of his strategic vision. He is pushing forward on took over in 2012. During that time he has helped it
a slow-down in demand leading to a sharp drop multiple fronts that include investing in logistics move from being a purely subscription box model to
in interim pre-tax profits in March 2019. He and the checkout process that will create a single selling through supermarkets and online – including
immediately announced a ‘refresh’ strategy while global inventory and unified payment process for in the US. There have been some challenges along
also tackling serial returners of goods and bringing the YNAP sites and the white label clients’ sites. A the way but Fletcher is incredibly well regarded and
a new sense of mission to the business that he felt greater push to use data more powerfully is also played a leading role in the sale of Graze to Unilever
had been lacking in recent years. on the agenda. In Loehnis he has a powerful ally, who will look to utilise his experience and skill sets.
and capable operator, with responsibility for a
growing portfolio within YNAP.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50 16 17 18 Tom Athron | COO + Nicolas Pickaerts | e-commerce JJ Van Oosten | chief digital officer | Lego Group Simon Leesley | MD | Stitch Fix UK (OTW) director | MATCHESFASHION.com (OTW) Leesley has been with the styling service company With the unexpected departure of CEO Ulric Van Oosten joined Lego Group at the start of 2019 for nearly six years but only recently moved to head Jerome there will no doubt be some extra and reports directly to the CEO. He can expect to up the UK division, which launched in 2019. He responsibility placed upon Tom Athron at this play a vital role in all aspects of the group’s digital gained his fashion experience at Neiman Marcus mainly online company that Jerome helped build strategy from technology to e-commerce and where he worked for more than six years. He will now into a truly global luxury fashion retailer. In 2018 shopper and consumer engagement. Lego will be be expecting to utilise the much higher e-commerce the company reported booming profits and also hoping that his acumen and track record leading penetration of the UK market compared to the US to revealed that a new app accounted for 51% of digital transformations in consumer branded his advantage but it still remains to be seen if he will online sales, which is very much the domain of and retail companies will prove profitable. He is a make any fundamental changes to the UK business. Pickaerts. This year a major new concept store veteran CIO with previous stints at REWE, Tesco at 5 Carlos Place in London showed great forward and Kingfisher. thinking and will no doubt reap the rewards of retailtainment as it takes the company back to bricks and mortar. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
Movers & Shakers Top 50
19 20 21
Rosie Srao | director of product EMEA + Daniel Heaf | Demetra Pinsent | CEO + Harminder Matharu | Aron Gelbard | CEO + Phil Burton | COO | Bloom &
GM of global direct digital commerce | Nike director of digital | Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Wild
Srao has been at the iconic sportswear retailer Pinsent has headed up digital-forward Charlotte Gelbard founded Bloom & Wild in 2013 and pioneered
for 18 months and was joined a year ago by Heaf. Tilbury Beauty for over seven years and joined the idea of letterbox delivery for flowers – and even
Nike’s most recent results show a rise in sales of from McKinsey where he was a partner. Under her for mini Christmas trees. His digital-first strategy
7% to $39.1 billion with a 35% increase in online leadership the brand has expanded into Ireland, allows Bloom & Wild to gather data making it more
revenue making it clear where the engine of growth US, Canada, Netherlands and Germany and it efficient at predicting how much and what types
will be in the coming years. Both Heaf and Srao are continues to grow exponentially. Matharu joined of flowers it will need at any given time while the
well placed to make the most of the digitisation the company as marketing director before moving Bloom & Wild app, which takes half of all orders, has a
of Nike’s offering with its drive towards direct-to- to director of digital in January 2019. The role built-in occasion planner to remind users a few days
consumer sales. Srao’s background spans M&S involves utilising social, mobile and connected before important dates. Burton joined as second in
and John Lewis while Heaf previously spent four devices to get real-time insight from consumers, command in 2015 and brings a strong customer-
years working on the digital side at Burberry. and using that data to inspire creative thinking focus to the business, which scores very highly on all
across channels. ratings platforms and helping it grow exponentially.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
22 23 24
Duncan Grant | director of strategy + Phil Geary | Simon Mottram | founder and CEO | Rapha Sean McKee | head of e-commerce and customer
marketing director | The Entertainer Racing services | Schuh
Grant has been at his family-owned toy retailer Founded in 2004 Mottram’s ground breaking Schuh’s results for last year showed its online division
for almost 13 years, initially as director of brand-driven cycling clothing and cafes company was a shining star with e-commerce revenues
multichannel and now as director of strategy. In was sold in 2017 to RZC Investments. However, growing to make up 20% of total sales. It has
2018 The Entertainer posted double-digit growth he remains at the helm and began 2019 with the benefited from investment in a visual re-design and
in profit, sales and like-for-likes as it continued to signing of a new cycling sponsorship deal, and a a revamped website under the leadership of McKee
expand its store estate. Grant’s strategy has led range revamp that includes in-house designed who has been in charge of its online operations for
to the successful acquisition of Poly in Spain and shoes. This is not just a retailer and the Rapha three years following various other roles at Schuh.
the Early Learning Centre in the UK. Grant has Cycling Club continues to do well in linking the The well regarded McKee has a remit of driving
been ably assisted by Geary for the last five years brand to cycling fans. Disruption is still the name strategy, operation and performance of Schuh’s
resulting in a new website and an increase in online of the game for Mottram. online and CX proposition with overall responsibility
sales in last year by 38%. for digital marketing, editorial, site optimisation,
digital merchandising and analytics.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
25 26 27
Jill Easterbrook | CEO + Ana Machado da Silva | head Charlie Marshall | founder | Loaf Richard Hurren | MD of Northern Europe + Katia
of digital product | Boden Walsh | chief strategy and AI officer | Levi’s (OTW)
Marshall founded ‘laid back’ furniture retailer Loaf
Boden’s last reported results showed a strong Hurren has been with the legendary denim retailer
in 2008 after he wasted a day trying to buy a bed.
growth of 13% on the back of Easterbrook and for 13 years during which time he has moved
Since then under his leadership the company has
Machado da Silva investing heavily in people, from senior buying director in Europe to VP North
flourished and now boasts several showrooms
new distribution channels, a new warehouse Europe. He also previously spent a decade at Next
in the South East of England and has expanded
in Leicester and head office development. and worked for a stint at Adidas. On his watch Levi’s
its range considerably from beds to most home
Easterbrook joined in 2017 and immediately set has moved into personalisation, increased its ethical
décor. Loaf is vertically integrated and designs all
about turning the company into an international, practices, and developed into more of a lifestyle
its own products with Marshall having the ultimate
multi-channel retailer. She is due to leave the brand. Walsh joined the brand in the spring of 2019
aim of becoming a £100 million predominantly
business at the end of 2019. Machado da Silva with a remit to help the fashion retailer translate
online business.
arrived in 2015 with stints at Burberry and ASOS data analytics into major decisions for the business
under her belt. Although Boden has opened and to support the operation across innovation
several shops to maximise its channels to market incubation, new business models, and strategic
it remains a predominantly online business. growth initiatives.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
28 29 30
Simon Forster | MD | Selfridges Jo Whitfield | CEO + Chris Conway | head of Steve Murrells | CEO + Matt Atkinson | chief
Forster joined the upmarket retailer in 2012 but digital | Co-op Food membership officer | Co-operative Group
only became MD in February 2019 – just after Jo Whitfield has overseen a transformation of Murrells moved from Co-op Food to head the whole
Selfridges posted record breaking Christmas the Co-op Food offering in terms of its delivery group in 2017 and has since overseen the successful
trading figures. Forster now has responsibility for innovations and aspirations to be the main acquisition of NISA which brought Co-op goods into
the three luxury department stores the group has convenience food retailer in the UK. She joined 4,000 extra stores across the country. Innovations
in the UK and its online store. Prior to Selfridges the company in 2016 as group finance director continue apace with experiments in delivery
Forster had stints at both TK Maxx and Debenhams but soon moved to the top job the year after. She methods using robots and e-bikes as both Atkinson
where he developed the online channel. cut her retail teeth during eight years at Asda. and Murrells tap into the booming interest in the
She is assisted by Conway who also joined from a co-operative’s ethical stance. Atkinson joined Co-
supermarket – Morrison’s – and is fully immersed op from SAGA and will hope to replicate his success
in the digital transformation of the business. there in turning the organisation into a digital one
and winning new members.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
31 32 33
Peter Williams | non-executive director Julia Straus | CEO | Sweaty Betty (OTW) Chris Morton | CEO | Lyst
Williams has a portfolio of directorships at both Straus was only appointed in June 2019 and her Morton founded the fashion search engine Lyst
privately and publicly owned companies, most remit is largely to oversee Sweaty Betty’s digital in 2010 and has since presided over some up and
notably he has been the chairman of Superdry and international expansion – there are currently down periods. Against this backdrop it has managed
since April 2019, of Domino’s Eurasia for two years 60 stores in the UK and US. She steps up from to raise significant amounts in investment – most
and of Mister Spex for nearly six years. He has his managing director and takes over from Sweaty notably when LVMH contributed nearly half of a $60
work cut out to turn Superdry around following Betty founder Simon Hill-Norton who has taken on million round and showed everyone that the luxury
a boardroom coup which also returned fellow the chairman role. Commentators will be looking powerhouse thinks Lyst is a very sound bet for a
Selfridges’ veteran Julian Dunkerton to the top job to her extensive digital pure-play knowledge, future where luxury brands are as accessible online
alongside Williams and led to the mass resignation learnt from her time at Tula and Baublebar, to take as fast fashion. Morton will be using that money to
of the existing board. Williams has the benefit of the clothing brand to its next level. expand into new regions and languages - it has now
calling on a mass of experience. launched in French and has its sights set on Asia - as
well as to invest in iterating its technology.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
34 35 36
Peter Cowgill | executive chairman + Dan Finley | Sir Stuart Rose | non-executive director Paul Hayes | CEO | Seasalt
group multi-channel director | JD Sports
There aren’t many old school High Street retailers It is six years since Hayes joined the Seasalt team
Sometimes described as a ‘retail magician’
of note that Rose hasn’t been involved in over the and in that time profits at the women’s clothing
Cowgill joined the sports and leisure brand
years (Burton, Argus, Arcadia and M&S) but many retailer have doubled from £28 million to £51 million.
in 2004 and continues to oversee the never-
of his directorships are firmly based in technology- It continues to open new stores when others are
ending rise in profits for the retailer. January’s
led companies such as Ocado and Dressipi. He leaving the high street and he secured a £16 million
results showed another increase in like-for-like
got on board with Ocado as chairman in 2013 investment from Santander at the end of 2018 to
sales and annual revenue moved up by nearly £1
and joined fashion prediction platform Dressipi undertake a further 40 openings over the next five
billion. The holy grail of US expansion is going well
in 2012. The increasingly fast-paced evolution of years along with an increased focus on the omni-
following the Finish Line acquisition and the Foot
the retail sector make him ideally placed within channel experience. This growth has been made
Asylum purchase is also moving forward. Working
these companies to stay in the vanguard of multi- possible by a major re-platforming of the business
alongside Cowgill, Finley joined in 2012 and on
channel strategies. last year.
his watch the focus on online theatre has been
relentless.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
37 38 39
Robin Terrell | non-executive director Alex Baldock | group CEO | Dixons Carphone Nick Jones | CEO (OTW) + Colin Porter | chairman
Terrell holds multiple non-executive roles spanning Baldock has been at the under-pressure | Joules
clothing, betting and homeware companies both electronics retailer since early 2018 and is Retail veteran Jones is due to take over the top job at
here and internationally. The most recent is New midway through a turnaround which he hopes Joules sometime in 2019 as the very well regarded
Look where he has been for several months after will stabilise its fortunes. To date he has overseen Porter steps back to be chairman. He will arrive
its founder Tom Singh retired. A retail and leisure the renegotiation of all legacy network contacts, with a focus on international expansion and online
strategy and transformation expert, Terrell is also developed a new customer offer, and accelerated growth – and leaves Asda after eight years running
the former chief customer officer of Tesco and the integration of mobile and electronics into a the George brand. Prior to that Jones spent 15 years
managing director of John Lewis. single business. He retains goodwill from a solid with Marks & Spencer in a wide variety of roles.
reputation built up from his work transforming
Shop Direct.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50
40 41 42
Clodagh Moriarty | group chief digital officer | Lord Simon Wolfson | CEO | Next Doug Gardner | CIO | River Island
Sainsbury’s Wolfson’s long tenure at one of the UK’s best Gardner is a tech enthusiast whose strength
Moriarty is now one year into her appointment known high street names continues for an lies in driving organisations forward through
as the first chief digital officer at Sainsbury’s. eighteenth year. His well-known exacting eye the effective selection and deployment of new
Recent results showed online sales grew by 6.9% for financial detail and ability to think through a technology. This he has done to great effect at
and Moriarty will now be focusing on expanding problem and come up with a solution make him a River Island where he has been since 2011. He
the online business even further through trialling rock solid figure at the top of Next. The company can be credited with transforming the role of tech
checkout-free stores, trialling digital Nectar in makes over 50% of sales online making it one of from being a support service to playing a key role
Wales ahead of a broader roll-out later in the year the better placed mid-market fashion retailers in commercial strategy. It will be an increasingly
and introducing the SmartShop self-scan to more to weather current challenging conditions. His important shift because despite opening more
of the group’s supermarkets. recent report on the prospects for the company’s stores revenue is increasingly skewed towards
store base over the next 15 years should be online – 33% increase in click and collect along
required reading for all retailers. with a 24% increase in m-commerce is proof of
the direction of travel.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50 43 44 45 Sharon White | chairman + Sienne Veit | director of John Roberts | CEO | AO.com Kresse Wesling | co-founder | Elvis & Kresse digital | John Lewis It’s been a turbulent year for AO.com management Wesling co-founded the sustainable luxury brand Economist White’s surprise appointment from – in 2018 Roberts stood down as CEO after 17 Elvis & Kresse in 2005 with the aim of diverting Ofcom to chair John Lewis came in June of 2019. years only to take up the mantle again in early old firehoses away from landfill and into artisan- Although not a retailer, according to John Lewis, she 2019 to widespread surprise. After reporting made belts, purses and bags. Today the company brings vision, leadership, drive and flair to steer the a loss in November, AO got back on track with a has expanded to include parachute silk, former partnership through its next phase as the retailer record breaking Black Friday and a “re-energised” conveyor belts and off cuts of leather as it further remains buffeted by the discounters and online Roberts now firmly back in charge. His focus is on utilises waste materials. The range has also been rivals. Sienne Veit joined John Lewis nearly five years creating a new house tech team to better service increased to include some homewares. Wesling ago with the remit to unify the Online Product, Trade the growing e-commerce and m-commerce continues to prove an inspiration to those who and Operations teams into one digital team. Veit has capabilities of the company. seek to combine CSR commitments with luxury stints at Morrison’s and Invisible Stuff behind her. and is an exemplar in purpose-driven retail. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019 The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
Movers & Shakers Top 50
46 47 48
Jo Bertram | chief digital officer | O2 Craig Smith | digital commerce director | Ted Baker Rowan Gormley | CEO | Naked Wines
Bertram almost became a household name in the After 23 years working for Ted Baker as brand It has been a big year for Gormley as he set in motion
UK after being the Uber boss in Northern Europe communications director, Smith shifted to his the sale of the Majestic Wines stores business and
for several years but left the controversial start up in current role two years ago. He sees the big to focus the group on the online Naked Wines
2018 to join telephone giant Telefonica. Her wealth of opportunities at the clothing retailer as being operation that he created in 2008 before it was
innovative and customer-centric experience will be around evolving its product offer and wrapping acquired by Majestic in early 2015. This is without
useful in implementing Telefonica’s customer-first, it up with customer friendly narrative and doubt a big call but his entrepreneurial instinct has
mobile-led business strategy in the UK. At a time storytelling. Despite the recent challenges Ted served him well in the past.
of change and new technologies her considerable Baker has faced, its e-commerce sales were up
digital experience could be critical to future success. by 20% in the most recent results and the online
channel seems set to comprise an ever larger
share of revenue under his watch.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019Movers & Shakers Top 50 49 50 Alessandra Bellini | chief customer officer + Paul Dave Potts | CEO + Andy Atkinson | group Wilkinson | head of product for space, range & marketing and customer director | Morrison’s display + Jo Hickson | head of Labs | Tesco After a lifetime working at Tesco, Potts arrived Unilever veteran Bellini’s remit is to ‘build the Tesco at Morrison’s in 2015 and as of 2019 has seen brand globally and put the customer at the heart the retailer book three solid years of growth. of everything’ which she is performing admirably His relentless focus on making the shopping judging by the company’s progress. She will experience more pleasurable for customers and increasingly rely on the work of Hickson who took up clever negotiations with Ocado and Amazon the mantle of head of Labs in February 2019 having seems to be paying dividends. Supporting the previously worked as head of innovation at both CEO, Atkinson is now in his eighth year at the Sainsbury and TUI. Wilkinson previously headed up supermarket having started as trading director research at the Tesco Labs but his role was changed before moving up to own brand and sourcing. He as part of a strategy to broaden his experience previously worked at Boots and L’Oreal. within Tesco. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019 The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
A-Z The Recognised Retailers
Chosen from our long list and Rob Feldmann | CEO | BrandAlley Nick Thomas | founder | Built/ (OTW) Rod Manley | chief marketing officer
deservedly included in the Top 100 The long term chief executive of flash Thomas founded the enormously | Burberry
Movers & Shakers, these individuals sale site BrandAlley has been in his disruptive and successful builders’ Manley replaced his sister as CMO at
have been recognised for: job for more than a decade and been supplies drive-through format Built/ forward-thinking fashion company
involved with the company since its when working within Travis Perkins. Burberry at the end of 2018. He
their innovation inception in 2008. Feldmann continues Although that concept is no longer relocated to the UK from the US
performance over the year to push the business forward with operating, he is one to watch with his where he was working for Calvin
potential future performance the focus on being a “mobile first” 20 years of experience specialising Klein in a similar role. Manley will now
customer engagement company. Last saw an exciting period in data-driven omni-channel digital have ultimate responsibility for all
future business leader potential of growth for BrandAlley with the customer propositions. This includes the marketing, communications and
multi-channel strategy business acquiring leading homeware stints heading up the digital and creative media teams at Burberry –
and beauty e-tailer Achica. Feldmann e-ventures arm of TP, the e-commerce one of his challenges will be trying to
They are listed here in alphabetical will be hoping that with customers and multi-channel director at The alleviate any long-term damage done
order by the organisation employing now benefitting from a full range Works, and founder of Cloggs.co.uk. to the company’s sustainability image
them. of leading brands available on both by the news that it has been burning
Achica and BrandAlley revenues will excess stock to protect the brand.
continue to rise.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019A-Z The Recognised Retailers Alex Chesterman | founder | Cazoo Tony Mannix | CEO + Emma Dempsey Dwain McDonald | CEO | DPD Group Leonie Foster | chief customer & Chesterman founded car | deputy CEO | Clipper Logistics McDonald is the long-time CEO of digital officer | Dunelm refurbishment site Cazoo in late Mannix joined Clipper in 2006 after a DPD Group having been at the top Foster joined the home-wares 2018 with £30 million of backing career in retail logistics spanning 30 of the company for an impressive company in 2015 and is accountable from investors attracted by his years. He has a wealth of experience in 30-plus years. He was behind the for the end-to-end customer entrepreneurial pedigree – he also complex logistics, including the design development of DPD’s unique Predict proposition including Dunelm.com, founded Zoopla and LoveFilm. and specification of distribution service, which gives customers a marketing, customer insight, use Chesterman seeks to transform the centres, and multichannel operations. one-hour delivery window so they of macro and micro space, store used car market by offering customers Clipper is particularly strong in the don’t have to wait in all day, and lets format development and build (all the chance to be able to buy, finance area of fashion and the intelligent them track their delivery driver. His new stores, refits and maintenance). or rent a used car online and have handling of returns. Mannix is assisted mantra that he is in charge of a tech- Dunelm’s recent impressive results it delivered to their door within 48 by the experienced Dempsey who company, which happens to deliver are testament to her work and hours. Investors will be betting on joined as COO in early 2017, before parcels, has stood him in very good Dunelm.com has doubled in size Chesterman’s unparalleled track promotion to deputy CEO, and is keen stead for a career of award winning under her tenure to become a £150- record of identifying and capitalising on to adopt environmental practices ‘firsts’ including the Your DPD app, plus million digital business. Prior to opportunities for technology to disrupt and promote a sustainability agenda which is used by close to two million her appointment at Dunelm she spent whole industries. Cazoo announced within the business. people in the UK, and Precise, which five years as Tesco’s insight director. in June that it has signed a number of allows customers to select their own commercial partnership agreements delivery slot. with BCA to begin meeting its vehicle logistics, refurbishment and disposal requirements. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
A-Z The Recognised Retailers
Rebecca DeNiro | MD GB & Ireland | Ben Pugh | CEO | Farmdrop Zia Zareem-Slade | customer ex- Ted Bell | CEO | Freddie’s Flowers
Dyson London-based Farmdrop describes perience director + Zoe Colegrave Bell has been CEO of the subscription
DeNiro has been at Dyson for nine itself as an ethical online supermarket | head of online and marketing | flower delivery company since 2015
years, first in various sales roles and while Pugh founded it in 2012 Fortnum & Mason after working at Abel & Cole for nearly
and now as managing director as working with a handful of suppliers, Zareem-Slade has worked at the eight years. The company seeks to tap
the group focuses ever more on its it now works with more than 450 luxury grocer on London’s Piccadilly into the market for fresh cut weekly
direct-to-consumer channel strategy. producers. He spotted the business for nine years and has had a big impact flowers direct from the grower – in the
It’s most recent results showed a opportunity for mobile technology across many parts of the business as same way as Abel & Cole does for fruit
huge 33% rise in profits which broke to cut out the middlemen of her focus on the customer continues. and veg.
through a billion dollars, however the supermarkets and wholesalers from Full year results for 2018 showed a 12%
demand is all in Asia and the company the food supply chain, and in doing so increase – which is remarkably the
has also announced plans to move give a better deal to both farmers and sixth year on the trot it has achieved
HQ to Asia to reflect that. DeNiro consumers. Farmdrop has received double-digit growth. Her finger on the
will hope that plans for an electric car close to £20 million of investment with pulse of what her customers around
being developed in the UK will boost Pugh (a former investment banker) at the world want is impressive and in
the UK prospects for Dyson. Her the helm and now serves clients in this she is ably assisted by Colegrave.
previous employers include Reckitt London, Bristol and Bath. Together they have contributed to
Benckiser and PepsiCo. a 21% increase last year in online
sales. With the enormous popularity
of the brand in new Asian markets
this strong partnership looks set to
continue.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019A-Z The Recognised Retailers
Hugo Adams | CEO | Frugi (OTW) Timo Boldt | CEO | Gousto Tony Buffin | CEO + George Goley | David Devany | MD of online | Iceland
Cornish children’s wear brand Frugi had Boldt founded the meal kit company CTO | Holland & Barrett (OTW) Devany joined Iceland in 2016 and set
an interesting 2018 as the founders in 2012 and has been its CEO for the Buffin joined the health retailer in the about growing the online business.
sold out to a private equity firm True duration seeing the company through spring of 2019 and he is expected Under his stewardship the website
and Adams was brought in to head multiple investment rounds. Boldt to add further strength to the was re-launched again in 2019 with
up the company. The management describe Gousto as a tech company management and leadership of the significantly improved mobile access
changes have been made to take that happens to trade in food and business with regard to its big aims of and the most recent results have
the sustainable kidswear brand to its in July 2019 it raised a further £30 transforming customer propositions shown very strong growth throughout
next level and scale its growth across million to continue development of its across all channels and renewing the past year with deliveries regularly
multiple channels. Adams has outlined customer facing artificial intelligence its focus on product and service exceeding 200,000 per week. The
his focus as looking at how the recipe recommendation tool, through innovation. He previously spent six company announced in June that
company drives e-commerce, how it which half of customer orders are years at Travis Perkins but does have online picking will be rolling out across
furthers the wholesale business, and now placed. Year-on-year growth at food retail experience from his time at the group’s The Food Warehouse
how and where it expands into new Gousto is reported as being 170% and Australian retailer The Coles Group. stores along with a new text service,
international markets. Boldt believes that giving customers Goley is a tech veteran who has been where customers will receive live
the meals they really want and at Holland & Barrett for almost a year. order updates and a 30-minute
focusing on segments the grocery He is the first CTO at the company delivery window.
industry forgets will continue to yield and came from Sainsbury’s Argos.
rewards. He will be working alongside Buffin
to deliver more speed in the retail
experience, greater convenience in
service and delivery, and increase the
levels of personalisation both in-store
and online.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019A-Z The Recognised Retailers
Martin Francis | customer & digital Pierre Woreczek | chief customer Archie Norman | chairman + Jim Jason Hargreaves | CEO + Paul
director | Karen Millen/Coast officer | Kingfisher Cruickshank | global director of Hornby | director of e-commerce |
Francis joined women’s retailer Karen Appointed chief customer officer digital product & UX | Marks & Matalan
Millen/Coast in March 2019 although in 2016, Woreczek has a huge remit Spencer Matalan’s 2018 results were the best
owner Kaupthing had put the brand, including being in charge of customer Norman came on board as chairman for seven years, which is good news for
which operates in 65 countries, up for knowledge, brand strategy and in 2017, after having refused the job Hargreaves who has been at the helm
sale. Karen Millen is in the middle of a brand identity, customer experience, twice before, with the reputation of the company his father founded
turnaround strategy, which involves customer engagement, corporate as the ‘resuscitation king’ after since 2013. Its online business is
a new focus on e-commerce and reputation, external and internal completing turnarounds at both thriving under his leadership and
slim-lining its physical store estate. communication. He was most recently ITV and Asda. A shrewd retail with the able assistance of Hornby
Despite these tough backdrops at McDonald’s where he spent 12 years heavyweight he is helping to steer the who contributed greatly to the
Francis will be able to count on his as chief strategy, customer and digital struggling retailer through a massive transformation at his former employer
extensive experience gained during officer. Kingfisher is currently under modernisation programme, which Shop Direct. Matalan has also made
stints at Arcadia, Woolovers and pressure as its new CEO embarks on entails significant store losses. M&S’ strides in simplifying its supply chain
House of Fraser. a strategy to woo back its customers decision to buy half of Ocado’s UK and improving the range and quality of
in France. retail business will keep Cruickshank its products since Hargreaves junior
busy following his move to the retail took up the top job.
stalwart in 2016. He will also have a
hand in things like the proposed roll-
out of the Mobile Pay Go app.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019A-Z The Recognised Retailers
Kevin Rusling | COO | Mothercare Steve Johnson | CEO | N Brown Claire Davenport | CEO + Richard Tessa Clarke | co-founder & CEO |
(OTW) (OTW) Zubrik | CTO | Notonthehighstreet Olio
Rusling joined the maternity and Johnson was installed as CEO of N (OTW) Clarke has been a well-known warrior
children’s wear retailer in 2016 Brown in February 2019 having served Notonthehighstreet brought in against food waste for several years
having been poached from Monsoon. as interim CEO since September of Davenport in late August 2019 after now and co-founded app-based food
He initially took responsibility for the previous year. His background the enforced departure of Barrie sharing firm Olio in 2014. It connects
the international operations but is financial which will be essential Seidenburg for health reasons. neighbours with each other and with
was promoted to COO in 2019. as the company, which includes JD Davenport had most recently been local businesses so surplus food can
He now leads the development of Williams and Simply Be in its portfolio, advising various private equity and be shared, not thrown away. The
Mothercare’s global brand strategy is facing a challenging time. His strong venture capital-backed businesses app now has 1.1 million signed up
and oversees its world-wide network strategic thinking will be of great after a spell as CEO of HelloFresh UK. users with 1.8 million portions of
of franchise and wholesale partners. value to the company at a time when She has a wealth of other experience food shared to date. Clarke is well on
As well as experience from Monsoon, its sales figures are down and store from roles at Skype, Ofcom and the way to delivering on her vision of
his previous employers include Asda closures are on the cards. JPMorganChase. She joins tech millions of hyper-local food sharing
and M&S. expert Zubrik who was poached networks all around the world with
from Asos in January 2019 and is the most recent round of investment
tasked with developing and scaling closing at $6 million in the summer of
the technical functionality of the 2018.
marketplace to ensure that it provides
the best showcase for sellers.
The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019A-Z The Recognised Retailers Ivan Mazour | CEO | Ometria Mark Livingstone | CRO | Pharmacy2U Christos Angelides | CEO | Reiss John Mewett | CEO | Screwfix High-flying young entrepreneur Ivan Pharmacy2U is the largest online Angelides has been at premium A reshuffle in late 2018 at Kingfisher Mazour has been CEO of the artificial pharmacy in the UK and Livingstone clothing retailer Reiss for over two saw Mewett move from his role as intelligence-powered, personalised its CEO, following a merger with years after having reportedly turned Kingfisher Group digital director back customer marketing firm especially ChemistDirect.co.uk in 2016. It down the offer to take on the M&S to the successful and fast-growing designed for retailers since he co- currently dispenses eight times more clothing division role. It seems to have Screwfix as CEO. He actually began his founded it seven years ago. London- prescriptions than any other online been a canny appointment by founder Kingfisher career at Screwfix in 2008 based Ometria is now successfully pharmacy. The company announced David Reiss as the latest annual as marketing and IT director. During working with multiple international recently that it would open a new revenues show an increase of 8.3% which time he played a significant role retailers to leverage their data to dispensing facility in 2019 that will to £186.3 million. Angelides’ brings in Screwfix’s growth. More recently in acquire better customers and keep enable it to increase capacity by the relentless focus on product and his new role, he has been leveraging them purchasing more. Mazour 16-times. Livingstone’s background people that he displayed in his time Screwfix’s digital capability across the envisions Ometria growing into a includes co-founding and CEO of at Next where he worked for nearly 30 group to good effect. thriving international business with a LoveFilm, worldwide managing years. 1,000-employee base and to help him director of Lego Interactive and one achieve this he has to date completed of the people behind health retailer several rounds of investment funding Graze.com. totalling $11 million. The Retail Top 100 Movers & Shakers Report 2019
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