Wednesday, October 23

JD Sports Fashion goes purchasing for retail veteran Shapland

One of Britain’s most skilled retail executives is becoming a member of the board of JD Sports Fashion, a part of a administration shake-up geared toward bettering governance underneath its new chairman.

Sky News has learnt that Darren Shapland, a former finance chief at J Sainsbury, shall be named on Tuesday as a non-executive director of the UK’s largest listed sporting items chain.

Mr Shapland, who has been dealing with an try by an activist investor to oust him as chairman of Topps Tiles, has additionally labored for Carpetright, Arcadia Group and Notonthehighstreet throughout greater than 30 years within the business.

His appointment would be the newest element of a boardroom overhaul orchestrated by Andy Higginson, the previous Wm Morrison chairman, who was recruited final summer season amid a company governance disaster at JD Sports.

Mr Higginson moved swiftly to usher in Regis Schultz, a former govt on the DIY retailer B&Q, because the £8.5bn firm’s new chief govt.

He was recognized because the long-term substitute for Peter Cowgill, who stepped down final 12 months amid a sequence of boardroom disagreements which pre-dated Mr Higginson’s arrival.

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Peter Cowgill, executive chairman of JD Sports
Image:
Peter Cowgill, the previous govt chairman of JD Sports

Since their appointment, they’ve introduced a shift within the firm’s technique, accelerating funding in its world retail community whereas promoting non-core manufacturers.

The firm is majority-owned by Pentland, the family-controlled group which manages a portfolio of manufacturers, together with Berghaus, Lacoste and Speedo.

Shares in JD Sports closed on Monday at 167.65p.

A spokesman for the retailer declined to remark.

Content Source: information.sky.com