Whistles chief executive steps down

Fashion retailer Whistles has confirmed that chief executive Jane Shepherdson is stepping down from her position after eight years.

The British fashion brand will now be handed over to the existing 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 the brand’s spring/summer 2017 and autumn/winter 2017 collections and plans to focus on her charitable work as well as spend time travelling.

Whistles chairman Ben Barnett added: "We would like to thank Jane for her outstanding contribution to the rebuilding of the Whistles brand. She has established a clear direction for the future development of the brand and in Helen, Justin and Nick we are privileged to have an exceptional management team to realise this vision.”

Shepherdson has been an influential figure on the British high street, when she left Topshop in 2007 she was hotly pursued with offers, before settling in as the boss of Whistles. Since arriving in 2008, Shepherdson has been instrumental in repositioning the premium brand, attracting celebrity fans including the Duchess of Cambridge and Samantha Cameron, and returning it to profitability in 2016.

Her departure comes less than six months after Whistles was bought out by South Africa’s Foschini Group. At the time of the sale, Shepherdson retained her 20 percent stake and said she was committed to remaining at the company.