Wilko names restructuring specialist as new CEO
Budget high street giant Wilko has appointed former Bensons for Beds boss Mark Jackson as its new CEO.
The news comes amid a turbulent period for the retailer, which recently brought in advisors after a combination of soaring inflation, shipment delays and store closures impacted its bottom line.
As we reported last month, Wilko made a loss of £36.8m for the year to January 29 – a huge swing in the wrong direction from the £4.5m profit it made in 2021.
Jackson, a restructuring expert, has been named CEO designate and will replace Jerome Saint-Marc in the hot seat at the Nottinghamshire-headquartered firm.
He was previously CEO of Steinhoff UK and has held senior finance roles at Pepkor, Heal’s plc and Allders.
In November, Wilko announced the £48m sale and leaseback of its distribution centre in Worksop to delivery firm DHL – the first of a series of “transformational efficiencies” planned by the company.
A week later, the retailer was reported to be in talks over a £30m emergency loan to help it through the Christmas trading period.
Wilko currently has 402 stores and employs around 16,000 people.
