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In Review 2024: The year in department stores

Katie Ross
20 December 2024

The biggest news from UK department stores in 2025, including Harrods, Liberty, John Lewis and more. 

Whichever way you look at it, 2024 has been a major year for UK department stores. John Lewis brought back its 'Never Knowingly Undersold' pledge, Harvey Nichols gained a CEO, Fenwick lost a potential CEO, and Harrods became embroiled in allegations of sexual abuse by former owner Mohammed Al-Fayed.

With the new year looming, TheIndustry.fashion rounds up the most important department store news of 2024.

Harvey Nichols poaches Alexander McQueen EMEA President for CEO role

It was announced in April that Julia Goddard, EMEA President of Alexander McQueen, would take over as CEO of Harvey Nichols, effective in June. She replaced Manju Malhotra, who resigned in August 2023 after 25 years at the department store chain.

During her tenure at Alexander McQueen, Goddard led the EMEA region as President since 2019 with "dynamic growth and expansion" in wholesale, retail and e-concession channels. Harvey Nichols' owner Sir Dickinson Poon said Goddard "would be invaluable in delivering long-term growth".

Since taking over at Harvey Nichols, Goddard has made various executive appointments in an effort to revitalise the retailer. Ex-Vogue Fashion Director Kate Phelan was hired as Creative Director in November, followed by last week's news that Katie Benson, Senior Buying Director at Net-A-Porter, would become Harvey Nichols' Chief Merchant.

Why is John Lewis bringing back its ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ pledge and how will it work?

First introduced in 1925, 'Never Knowingly Undersold' promised John Lewis customers that the retailer would match the price of any item sold more cheaply elsewhere, as long as it was the same product and conditions. However, the department store chain retracted its historic pledge in 2022 under Dame Sharon White's tenure as Chairman.

In a very widely ported U-turn, John Lewis announced it would be reinstating the pledge as of 9 September, led by Executive Director Peter Ruis, who rejoined the retailer in January this year.

Ruis said at the time: "As of Monday, we are bringing back Never Knowingly Undersold – 100 years since it was introduced (in 1925). This is our brand promise, and it’s about the quality, service and prices we offer – I’ve always believed that the reason John Lewis is so unique is the combination of the three. It’s also very rare that you can be at a brand that’s got a 100-year brand promise."

Former Harrods executive says Fenwick CEO role offer 'withdrawn unfairly' and he has been made 'guilty by association' with Mohamed Al Fayed

Unfortunately, the most prominent news surrounding department stores this year is that surrounding Mohammed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods. An increasing number of rape and sexual assault claims have been made against the Egyptian businessman, who died in 2023 aged 94.

The allegations made against Al Fayed have begged several major questions, chiefly, how he was able to systematically prey upon over 400 women throughout four decades.

The answer to this has become increasingly clear as the case has continued: other parties had to be involved, both inside Harrods and externally. This has left unfortunate question marks over the heads of many Harrods employees who overlapped with Al Fayed's tenure as owner (1985-2010), particularly those at the top.

For Nigel Blow, whose employment at Harrods spanned 1992-2007, this would prevent him from taking the top job at department store Fenwick, even without proof of knowledge of or involvement in Al Fayed's alleged abuses.

Fenwick announced in July that Blow would be taking over as CEO, having served as CEO of Morleys Stores from 2019. However, just two weeks before he was due to take up post, Fenwick withdrew the offer due to Blow's association with Harrods.

Blow worked in various executive roles at Harrods between 2002 and 2007, including Chief Merchant, but said in a statement released to TheIndustry.fashion: "I can confirm that, during my time at the business, I never heard about or witnessed any such behaviour by Mr Al Fayed."

There was backlash over Fenwick's decision, with many criticising the total lack of evidence linking Nigel Blow to any wrongdoing at Harrods during his tenure. Critics questioned whether Fenwick had acted recklessly, possibly undermining its commitment to due process as a result of public or media pressure.

In My View by Eric Musgrave: Is having Harrods on your CV now a problem?

Fenwick said Nigel Blow had turned down the CEO position at the last minute. Blow said that Fenwick had rescinded its offer at the last minute. In other words, something had to give.

As we now know, Fenwick did retract the CEO role offer and Fenwick chairman Sian Westerman told him the company was “was not able to proceed” with his employment “in order to safeguard the reputation of the Fenwick business”. Blow said he had not agreed to Fenwick’s statement.

Can brands and retailers separate the potential employee from controversy surrounding their previous employer? Contributor Eric Musgrave investigates.

Liberty to celebrate new Wicked movie with magical Christmas makeover

Just like Elphaba herself, Liberty offers some levity in a somewhat sorry year for department stores, albeit not in the gravity-defying sense. The iconic London store has had a Glinda-approved makeover, complete with green and purple-lit Christmas trees lining its first floor exterior and the enormous visage of Oz himself in the main entrance.

Sarah Coonan, Managing Director of Liberty, said: "We are thrilled to collaborate with Universal Pictures to bring the world of Wicked to life at Liberty this Christmas.

"Both Wicked and Liberty are steeped in rich storytelling, creativity, and a spirit of individuality, which makes this partnership a perfect fit. At Liberty, we have always championed the finest in art and design, and this collaboration allows us to showcase the magical synergy between Wicked's enchanting world and our own heritage of bold, imaginative expression.

"We invite customers to 'Find the Magic Within' as they experience a holiday season filled with wonder, beauty, and discovery."

Morleys appoints former House of Fraser exec as new CEO

In November, department store chain Morleys appointed retail veteran Allan Winstanley as its new Chief Executive, effective January 2025, following Nigel Blow's departure.

Morleys Group comprises of eight stores; Morleys in Brixton, Bexleyheath and Tooting, as well as Elys in Wimbledon, Pearsons in Enfield, Camp Hopson in Newbury, James Selby in north London and Roomes Fashion and Home in Upminster.

Winstanley is former Executive Director of Menswear, Beauty & Childrenswear at House of Fraser, where he worked from 2005-2014, being promoted to Executive Director of Women’s Apparel, Accessories & Beauty.

The new role will mark Winstanley's return to the UK, having worked as Chief Merchandise Officer at Myer department stores in Melbourne, Australia, for the past six and a half years.

Selfridges co-owner says it overpaid for store portfolio

How much should one pay for a handful of luxury department store chains these days? Well, apparently not £4 billion.

Tos Chirathivat, co-owner of Selfridges and Executive Chairman and CEO of Thailand’s Central Group, has acknowledged that the £4 billion price tag attached to Selfridges and several other European luxury department stores was too high, especially given the rise in global interest rates.

"You would always aim for the lowest possible price when buying something… Is £4 billion high? Yes, it’s high, especially in this environment," he told the Financial Times.

However, Chirathivat alluded to the fact that Selfridges and the other purchased assets may be a worthwhile investment longterm: "Maybe 10 years from now it won’t be too high, but if you ask today, then of course it’s too high."

Other 2024 department store news to know:


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