The Very Group's Irish retail business appoints Henry Dummer as CEO

The Very Group has appointed Henry Dummer as Chief Executive Officer of Very.ie, its Irish online retail business, as it looks to strengthen its position in the market.  

Dummer steps into the role with more than two decades of experience spanning retail, telecommunications, financial services and consumer goods. He joins from Bank of Ireland, where he served as Chief Marketing Officer, having previously held senior leadership positions at Tesco Ireland and Diageo.

As CEO, Dummer will lead Very.ie’s growth strategy, with responsibility for enhancing the customer experience and driving innovation across the retailer’s ecommerce and financial services offering. He will report to Sam Wright, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at The Very Group.

Commenting on his appointment, Dummer said:"Very.ie is a business with a strong brand, loyal customers and a clear opportunity for growth. I am delighted to be joining the team at such an important time for the business.”

“Together, we will continue to focus on delivering exceptional value, convenience and service for our customers, while building on the strong foundations already in place.”

Wright added: “Henry is a proven commercial leader with an outstanding track record of delivering growth, building brands and leading customer-focused transformation. His extensive experience across some of Ireland’s leading consumer businesses makes him exceptionally well placed to lead."

The appointment marks a new chapter for Very.ie, formerly Littlewoods Ireland. The business has traded in Ireland for almost 50 years and is headquartered in Blanchardstown, Dublin, employing more than 35 people across marketing, logistics, compliance, customer care and finance.

Very.ie is Ireland’s largest multi-category digital retailer and flexible payments provider, attracting around 22 million website visits each year and generating annual sales of more than €75 million. Customers can shop from more than 1,800 brands across fashion, beauty, home and electricals, supported by a range of flexible payment options regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Carlyle launches £2bn sale of The Very Group

The news follows the announcement that The Very Group's owners, the Carlyle Group, has launched a formal auction the UK multi-brand online retailer, reportedly seeking around £2 billion for the business it acquired for £1 just seven months ago.

According to reports by The Telegraph, bankers at Barclays and JPMorgan have been hired to run the sale process, with potential bidders already having been approached.

The process is expected to take several months.

Potential bidders include Elliott Advisors, the US investment firm that owns Waterstones, which reportedly expressed interest earlier this month in a deal that could value the company at around £2 billion.

Chinese e-commerce group JD.com was also reportedly weighing a potential bid in May.