The Very Group appoints former ASOS CEO Nick Beighton as Non-Executive Director
The Very Group, which operates digital retailer Very, has appointed former ASOS CEO and current Non-Executive Chair of Secret Sales, Nick Beighton, as a Non- Executive Director.
Paul O’Donnell, who has over 20 years of M&A and corporate finance experience, serving as an advisor to public and private companies, as well as private equity funds, has also joined Very as a Non-Executive Director.
Both new appointments come following the retirement of previous Non-Executive Director, Mark McMenemy, who previously held the role of Group Finance Director at The Very Group from 2012 to 2015.
The appointments of Beighton and O’Donnell also follow the announcement in February 2024 that The Very Group had entered into a partnership with global investment firm Carlyle, and international investment company IMI.
The partnership meant that, alongside a £125 million funding package - of which circa £85 million from Carlyle was immediately available for the company - each firm would take a seat on the company’s board.
Beighton has therefore been appointed as a representative of Carlyle, while O’Donnell has been appointed as a representative of IMI.
Nadhim Zahawi, Non-Executive Chair of The Very Group, said: "I am delighted to welcome Nick and Paul to The Very Group’s board. Both bring a wide network of relationships, as well as leading expertise and unrivalled experience in helping ambitious businesses develop and grow. Their contributions will be invaluable, and I look forward to working with them."
Beighton, who prior to ASOS – which he left in 2021 having overseen revenue grow to £3.9 billion – was Head of Finance at Matalan. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director at online fashion retailer Lookiero, as well as at heritage clothing brand Raging Bull.
O’Donnell is currently a Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee member at Nordic Aviation Capital and EnerMech. He also served as an Alternate Director at McLaren Group and was previously a Managing Director at Blackstone.