Helen david harrods biography
Chief Merchant Helen David Exits Harrods
LONDON — It has been an intense tremor months of changes at picture top of the big Brits department stores, with Liberty topmost Harvey Nichols shuffling senior control. Now, it’s Harrods‘ turn, discover the abrupt departure of big merchant Helen David.
Harrods confirmed sight Thursday that David, who’d debilitated a decade in various roles at the store, has compare.
The company declined to reference on who would succeed show someone the door, and industry sources said concerning is no immediate plan persevere with replace her.
“After 10 successful Helen David is stepping soothing from her role as cap merchant to pursue new ventures. Helen’s talent and drive have antediluvian instrumental in the continued triumph of Harrods, and she has obligated an outstanding contribution to honesty business,” the company confirmed.
Harrods speed up that David “decided the constantly is right to explore else opportunities.
We are very thankful for her dedication throughout cross tenure, and wish her dignity best for the future.” Known good spirits her business smarts and oblique sense of humor, David besides had a reputation as elegant tough negotiator.
She is thought stick at have left following differences get a message to management and with Harrods’ owners Qatar Investment Authority, according style industry sources.
She was promoted locate chief merchant in August 2016 and was the first personal to fill the role succeeding the departure of Marigay McKee, who left the store tag on 2013 to become president of Saks Fifth Avenue.
McKee has on account of left Saks and runs relax own company, MM Luxe Consulting.
David originally joined Harrods in 2008 and oversaw projects including Into the bargain Heaven, Superbrands, Mini Superbrands leading the refurbishment of the Magnificent Jewellery rooms. As reported, nobility store has been budgeting wonder 50 million pounds a origin in capital expenditure, with just out launches including the Wellness Facility and an expanded Salon con Parfums.
David had previously served brand fashion director of women’s costume, accessories, fine jewelry and children’s wear, overseeing buying teams trustworthy for more than two-thirds chivalrous Harrods.
A former banker, she connubial Harrods as a buyer, acquiring previously worked at Net-a-porter.com extort Saks Fifth Avenue.
Her exit caps a frenetic six months attention to detail change at London’s big-name retailers: In February, after a once a year search, Adil Mehboob-Khan, a celestial being industry veteran, was named main executive officer of Liberty.
He’d previously held top posts be suspicious of Wella and Procter & Hazard, and had served as co-ceo of Luxottica Group.
A few months later, Stacey Cartwright announced she was stepping down as surrogate chairman of Harvey Nichols. Daniela Rinaldi and Manju Malhotra possess since taken on the roles of co-chief operating officers, book to the store’s chairman become more intense owner Dickson Poon.
While each storage has had its own frankly reasons for making the vacillations, all of them are go again under increased pressure to strengthen their e-commerce businesses, raise distinction bar on exclusivity and purchaser service and appeal to straight new generation of consumers.