Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson steps down

Jane Shepherdson has stood down from her position as CEO of Whistles eight years after leading a buy-out of the brand, it has been confirmed today.

Shepherdson cemented her position as a leading player in the British high street at Topshop before leading a buyout of Whistles from what was then Aurora Fashions (which was also home to Oasis and Warehouse). She was originally backed by Icelandic investor Baugur and after its collapse a year later in 2009, another Icelandic investor Mundur stepped in to refinance the business.

She then set about transforming the brand, which had originally begun life as a multi-brand boutique in the 1970s, to bring a high design aesthetic to the consumer at accessible price points. Menswear was introduced last year and the brand had recently shifted into profit. Whistles was then acquired earlier this year by South African group Foschini, which also owns British brand Phase Eight.

At the point of the sale to Foschini, Shepherdson retained her 20% stake in the business, but it was revealed today that she was leaving and her responsibilities would pass to her team led by brand director Helen Williamson, managing director Justin Hampshire, and creative director Nick Passmore.

In a statement Shepherdson said: "I am really proud of what we have achieved at Whistles and am confident that I am handing over to a strong team in Helen, Justin and Nick, to continue the development of the brand."

Shepherdson is said to have already signed off on Whistles' SS17 and AW17 collections and will for now be focusing on her charitable work while spending time on the West Coast of America.

Following her departure from Topshop in 2007, shortly after Sir Philip Green announced a design collaboration with model Kate Moss, Shepherdson was one of the most hotly pursued names in the business, apparently receiving a multitude of offers before emerging at the helm of Whistles.

She is the second high profile woman to step down from the British high street this week. Yesterday Marks & Spencer executive director of multi-channel Laura Wade-Gery revealed she would not be returning from maternity leave this month. Wade-Gery was appointed by former CEO Marc Bolland and had been tipped to replace him, though that role went to M&S life-long executive Steve Rowe at the start of the year.