Ted Baker appoints chief customer officer

Ted Baker non-executive director Jennifer Roebuck has been appointed to the new position of chief customer officer as it continues to reshape its leadership team after a tumultuous 12 months.

Roebuck was offered the role following a search process and her remit is to develop a customer and digital strategy across the business and "explore new digital partnership opportunities to drive accelerated growth".

Her career includes senior roles at French Connection, where she was Multichannel Marketing Director, and most recently, Feel Unique, where she was Chief Marketing Officer.

Ted Baker acting Sharon Baylay said to the appointment: "We are delighted that Jennifer is joining the executive leadership team. Her background in digital transformation and brand marketing, particularly in the lifestyle and clothing sector will be of huge benefit to the leadership team, as they look to position the business for future success.  As Jennifer will be stepping down from the Board, I would also like to thank her for her time and valuable contribution up to now."

Roebuck added: "I'm tremendously pleased to be taking up the role of CCO. My time on the Board has strengthened my view that Ted is a great brand and business and I look forward to contributing to its future success."

The search continues for a permanent CEO and chairman following the departures of Lindsay Page and David Bernstein in December following a profit warning. Page, the former long-standing COO, had been in the CEO seat for less than a year having replaced founder and CEO Ray Kelvin who stood down following accusations of harassment from staff, which he denied.

Chief financial officer Rachel Osborne, who joined Ted Baker from Debenhams last year, is holding the role of CEO on an interim basis, while Baylay was appointed acting chair.

Following the departures of Page and Bernstein the company warned it had discovered a £20m-£25m black hole in its accounts due to overstatement of the value of stock, however it was subsequently revealed that this figure was in fact in the region of £58m.