Halfords boss quits for challenging role with rival retailer
The boss of Worcestershire-based retailer Halfords Group has quit the company to take on one of the most challenging roles in the sector.
Jill McDonald, who only joined the Redditch retailer two years ago, has been poached to become managing director of the Clothing, Home & Beauty division of Marks & Spencer.
Ms McDonald, who was originally recruited from the fast-food empire that bears her name, will remain CEO of Halfords until the end of her notice period in October.
However, the Halfords board has already started the process to appoint her successor.
Commenting on behalf of the Halfords board, Dennis Millard said: “We are grateful to Jill for the positive impact she has made across the business. She will leave Halfords with a strong team and a clear strategy to drive future growth.”
Ms McDonald said: “Halfords is a great company with a fantastic team of people throughout the business, making my decision to leave all the more difficult. Our customer-centric, service-led strategy has real traction and I look forward to working with the team over the next six months continuing to deliver further progress across the group.”
In her new role, she will have overall profit and loss accountability for all aspects of the M&S non-Food business, from design and sourcing through to supply chain and logistics.
The operation has come under fire in recent years for dragging down the retailer’s traditional image.
She will take up the new role sometime in the autumn and will report directly in to M&S’s CEO, Steve Rowe.
She will be part of the M&S Operating Committee, the team accountable for the day-to-day running of the business and the development and execution of strategy.
As a result of this appointment, M&S is also announcing a change of responsibility for CEO Steve Rowe, who will relinquish his Clothing, Home & Beauty accountabilities to Ms McDonald on her arrival, and for CFO Helen Weir, who will hand over responsibility for the Clothing, Home & Beauty Supply Chain & Logistics.
Mr Rowe, M&S CEO, said: “I am pleased with the progress we have made in Clothing & Home over the last year and the time is now right for this appointment.
“Jill is an excellent addition to the M&S senior leadership team and we are delighted that she is joining us. Jill’s first-class customer knowledge and great experience in running dynamic, high achieving teams make her exactly the right person to lead this all-important part of our business from recovery in to growth.”
Ms McDonald said: “M&S has a unique, special relationship with its customers and I am very motivated by working closely with customers to drive and shape results. I have long been an M&S customer and professional fan, so working with the brand was a career opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down. I am looking forward to joining Steve and the team later this year to build on the plans that are already underway.”
Following her resignation, she will continue to receive her full salary from Halfords, however, she will not be eligible for any bonus having resigned before the payment date.
Halfords added that its results for the 52 weeks ended March 2017 are due to be announced on May 25 and are expected to be in line with market expectations.
Elsewhere, Clipper Logistics has announced that it has signed a new eight year contract with Halfords to provide additional warehouse fulfilment and ancillary services from its distribution centre at Danes Way, Daventry.
