Shop Direct boosts board with internal promotions

Multi-brand online retailer Shop Direct, owner of Very and Littlewoods, has boosted its executive board with a number of internal promotions, including giving deputy chief executive Gareth Jones a broader remit.

Jones, who has been with the group since 2009 and was only recently appointed deputy CEO of Shop Direct in October, will now also take on the role of group chief operating officer from January. The new role will give him responsibility for the customer’s end-to-end experience and sees him take control of fulfilment, operations, process excellence, outsourcing and customer services.

Meanwhile, retail finance director Greg Pateras has been promoted to the board, succeeding Mark McMenemy as group finance director following his decision to retire as a full-time executive, and trading director Jon Owen has also been promoted to the executive board as group retail brands director.

Shop Direct gives deputy CEO Jones a broader remit

Additionally, group chief operating officer Neil Chandler will take on the role of financial services CEO, succeeding Andy Hart, who has decided to leave Shop Direct for personal reasons. Chandler, Jones, Pateras and Owen will all take on their new roles from January 5.

Alex Baldock, group chief executive officer at Shop Direct, said: “We work hard to cultivate talent at Shop Direct. Congratulations to Greg and Jon, two home-grown rising stars, and to Gareth and Neil, both lynchpins of our transformation so far. This team can take us to the next level in our journey towards being a world class digital retailer.

“Meanwhile, many thanks to Mark and Andy, who have played key roles in our recent resurgence. We are determined to build on that to become a true leader in e-commerce.”