Published
Sep 7, 2017
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Debenhams trading director steps down

Published
Sep 7, 2017

Debenhams has announced the departure of long-time group trading director Suzanne Harlow and the creation of three new business units, including Fashion and Home.


Debenhams


The British department stores chain said Harlow will step down from the board to explore new opportunities on 20 October. She is a well-known Debenhams veteran, having joined the retailer in 1994 and held several roles within the company including womenswear director, and buying and merchandise director.

Harlow was promoted to the role of group trading director in 2008 and appointed to the board in 2013. In this role, she led the design, buying and merchandising functions of the business.

Debenhams said it will continue with a new structure going forward, with three new business units created to replace the board role of group trading director. The units, Fashion and Home; Beauty and Beauty Services; and Food and Events, will be led by a member of the executive committee, and will support the group’s new ‘Debenhams Redesigned’ strategy.

A new executive committee member responsible for Fashion and Home is expected to be appointed in due course. In the interim period responsibility for this division will be taken by CEO Sergio Bucher.

He said: "I would like to thank Suzanne personally for her support since my arrival at Debenhams in October last year. She has done an excellent job since she joined Debenhams in 1994 and over the last eight years as Group Trading Director has driven growth in categories such as Beauty, Accessories, Food and Gift.  We have strengthened the management team over the last 12 months and now have a structure in place to support our ambition to become a leader in Social Shopping."

Sir Ian Cheshire, Chairman, added: "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Suzanne for her significant contribution to Debenhams over the last 23 years. She has proved herself a consummate professional and I personally would like to thank her particularly for her help and support to the business through the period of leadership transition. We wish her every success in the future."

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