JD Sports Chair stepping down in July

JD Sports Chair Andy Higginson has announced his intention to step down from his role in July, following the company's AGM, after almost four years.

Higginson joined JD Sports as Chair in July 2022, leading the transformation of the Group's governance framework, while also overseeing the global expansion of the JD brand and wider JD Group.

Prior to joining JD Sports, Higginson served as Chair of the N Brown Group, Poundland and the British Retail Consortium, and worked as Non-Executive Chairman at Clarks and Woolworths.

JD Sports announced that its board had already initiated a process to appoint a successor to Higginson. It also announced that, following the 2026 AGM, Independent Non-Executive Director Darren Shapland will serve as Interim Chair. Shapland currently chairs the Board's ESG Committee.

Higginson said: "I am proud of my time at JD which has coincided with a tough period in the sportswear market. We have focused the business back to sports fashion, bought out minority interests in subsidiaries, and accelerated our expansion outside JD's UK market, particularly in the US.

"At the same time, we have made significant investments to transform the Group's governance and control systems, reflecting the scale and global footprint of JD, and in doing so materially strengthened our Board. As we move into the next phase of our journey, our focus on business discipline and cashflow leaves JD well placed to deliver the value it unquestionably represents."

Regis Schultz, Group CEO, added: "I'm grateful to Andy for his support and counsel through a critical and transformational period for the Group. His leadership and experience have been crucial in building the capability we have around the Board today."