Fenwick MD David Walker-Smith resigns

Fenwick Bond Street managing director David Walker-Smith has resigned after a three-year tenure to reposition the department store and oversee a number of innovative initiatives including the overhaul of the shoe department.

Walker-Smith joined Fenwick in 2013 from Selfridges, where he was executive buying director, and his brief with Fenwick was to reinvent the iconic store. He is credited with overhauling the footwear department, which was relocated from floor one to a new 4,150 square foot space on the ground floor, dubbed Shoe Corner, as well as the beauty department that added new counters from Mac and Charlotte Tilbury.

Commenting on his departure, Walker-Smith said: “It has been a privilege to direct this historic store into its 125th anniversary year and to equip the business for a strong future. The time is right for me to exit stage left, knowing that the Bond Street store will go from strength to strength in its exciting next chapter.”

Mark Fenwick, chairman of the family-owned, independent department store group, called Walker-Smith “an inspirational and creative force”.

The department store didn’t give any idea on who would be replacing Walker-Smith, or where the managing director is moving on to.

Fenwick is the second London department store to announce the departure of its managing director this month, last week Harrods revealed that Michael Ward would be stepping down in the summer.

Image: Fenwick Bond Street