N Brown confirms roles at risk amid organisational restructure

N Brown Group, the parent company behind JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo, has confirmed that a number of roles have been placed at risk of redundancy as part of an organisational restructure.

In a statement shared with TheIndustry.fashion, a spokesperson for the retail group said: "In a challenging retail environment, we are taking steps to accelerate the delivery of our strategic transformation and our new financial services offering, building a stronger, more sustainable future for our business.

"This process does require organisational change, which has unfortunately resulted in a number of roles being placed at risk of redundancy. We appreciate that this is a very worrying time for those impacted, and we continue to support all of our colleagues through this process."

The restructure comes as N Brown continues its transformation into a more digitally-led, customer-focused business. In recent years, the group has been investing heavily in upgrading its technology platforms, refining its brand portfolio and overhauling its financial services arm.

The move follows a challenging period for many UK retailers, who are grappling with weaker consumer confidence and inflationary pressures.

While the company, which employs around 1,700 people, has not disclosed how many roles are affected, the consultation period is now underway.

The announcement follows a period of significant leadership change and structural evolution within the group. Earlier this year, N Brown announced it had promoted Clare Empson to its newly created role of Chief Customer Operations Officer as part of its strategic transformation. Empson, who joined the business in January 2024 as Director of Supply Chain, now oversees the entire customer operations domain, including supply chain, customer service and insight.

This appointment followed the announcement that Dene Jones would become N Brown’s new CEO of Retail from February 2025, succeeding Sarah Welsh, who stepped down after five years in the post.

At the time, Steve Johnson, Interim Chair and Group CEO, said: "At the heart of our strategic transformation is a commitment to aligning N Brown’s structure with our customers’ needs and elevating their experience as they interact with our brands."

The group has also been bolstering its leadership ranks, appointing Jo Parker, formerly Trading and Logistics Director at Jasper Conran, as its Group Head of Merchandising in December 2024.