Selfridges managing director departs

Selfridges managing director Simon Forster has left the luxury department store a little more than a year after being promoted to the role.

Forster, formerly the retailer's customer director, was promoted to the role in a management reshuffle in October 2018, which resulted in former managing director Anne Pitcher taking on the wider role of managing director of the Selfridges Group, with responsibility for its retail businesses in the UK, Netherlands and Canada.

Pitcher has returned to take on the role of managing director of Selfridges & Co on an interim basis following concerns about the direction of the business and the culture under Forster, The Telegraph reported.

However the company said in a statement that Forster had left to pursue other interests and his departure was by mutual agreement.

“I want to thank Simon for the significant contribution he has made to Selfridges over the years. Under his leadership, the business has continued to grow and thrive. Selfridges has a talented leadership team in place, and we continue to build that across the company," Pitcher's statement read.

His departure comes after the department store reported strong Christmas trading with sales up 5% aided by strong demand for vegan products, toys, beauty and menswear. At the time Forster said the company, which has stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester, would be focusing its efforts on sustainability moving forward.