Boohoo Group appoints ESG expert as non-executive director

Boohoo Group has boosted its board with the appointment of Kirsty Britz, who has been chosen for her expertise in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters.

Britz is currently the Director of Sustainable Banking at NatWest Group and an independent member of the Professional Standards Committee at HMRC. Prior to joining NatWest Group, she held the role of Director of Citizenship at Barclays. 

She has also served as a member of UKRI sustainability advisory group and as a member of NERC independent research panel and she has held various sustainability, brand strategy and marketing roles in the retail, telecommunications and advertising sectors. 

Her new role becomes effective from today and she will join the Manchester fashion group's audit and risk committees upon her appointment.

Executive chairman and co-founder of Boohoo Group Mahmud Kamani said of the appointment: "I am delighted to welcome Kirsty to the Board and look forward to the contribution she will bring. Her extensive ESG experience will help ensure the board remains focused on making balanced and sustainable decisions that factor in the impact of our strategy on multiple stakeholder groups." 

Britz added: "I look forward to helping the Group develop its sustainability approach, embedding it into strategy, governance and operations, and ensuring the Board remains focused on building practices fit for a sustainable future.” 

Boohoo has been making strides to improve practices across its supply chain following accusations of underpaid staff and poor working conditions at suppliers in Leicester, which came to the fore last summer.

The group called up Alison Levitt QC to carry out an independent inquiry into the matter and, as a result, deselected a number of suppliers. It also appointed retired judge Sir Brian Leveson to hold the board accountable for progress in ethical matters and set its board ESG goals as part of their bonus plans.

Last week Boohoo published its list of 1,100 suppliers globally, a pledge which was made in light of Levitt's investigation,