Matalan strengthens senior leadership team as it accelerates transformation plan

Matalan is building on the momentum of its turnaround plan, today announcing senior leadership hires that span buying and design, trading, marketing and digital disciplines.

The move comes under the leadership of Executive Chair Karl-Heinz Holland and Chief Product, Brand and Commercial Officer Sarah Welsh, who joined the business earlier this year and has since restructured the company’s creative and commercial functions under one unified team.

The refreshed leadership line-up are essential to "delivering everyday style, quality and value for customers", according to Welsh.

Jo Bennett joins as Director of Buying & Design to lead Matalan’s product and design strategy. She brings experience from Tu Clothing and John Lewis, where she led the womenswear and accessories business.

Jon Williams steps into the newly created role of Director of Trading, Planning and Merchandising. He brings more than two decades of multichannel retail experience from brands including John Lewis, Tesco and Primark.

Eilidh MacAskill joins as Director of Marketing, bringing senior experience across retail and fashion journalism, including roles at Ocado, Asda and Monsoon Accessorize.

Finally, Andreas Nicolaides has been appointed Director of Digital, charged with driving Matalan’s omnichannel strategy. He brings extensive experience from N Brown, John Lewis and digital media agencies across the UK.

The hires complement existing strengths across sourcing, quality, customer insight and data, forming what Matalan describes as a "rationalised senior team with broader scope and enhanced expertise".

They also arrive amid wider investment in Matalan’s store estate and supply chain, following a £25 million funding boost from its anchor investors earlier this year. The capital injection highlights the retailer’s commitment to modernising its operations and elevating its offer as part of a long-term transformation strategy.

Executive Chair Karl-Heinz Holland said: "We are making strong progress on our transformation plan. Combining product, brand and commercial capabilities has enabled us to put customers at the heart of everything we do and deliver on our promise to provide excellent quality, value and style.

"With fresh investment, a modernised store estate, invigorated product and the right talent across the business, we have both the strategy and means to grow our market share, attract new customers and deliver sustainable, profitable growth. I am proud of everything we’ve achieved so far on this journey."

Sarah Welsh, Chief Product, Brand and Commercial Officer, added: "Bringing together product, brand and commercial under one structure gives us the focus we need to relentlessly deliver the everyday style, quality and value our customer deserves.

"I am delighted to welcome the new team and look forward to inspiring our customer, innovating within our product and marketing, and building our share in the market."