N Brown chairman quits, search for replacement begins, as digital transformation continues

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jun 13, 2017

Andrew Higginson is stepping down after almost five years as chairman of retail group N Brown. The executive is leaving “in order to pursue opportunities in private equity,” he said.

The company, which owns the JD Williams, Jacomo, Simply Be and Figleaves brands, does not have a replacement lined up just yet so Higginson will stay in place while the company looks for one “and through an orderly handover period”. The process is being led by senior independent director Ron McMillan.

Higginson said he has enjoyed his time at the firm as it has gone through a  period of transformation to a digital business, adding that CEO Angela Spindler “has established a strong and capable team, the benefits of which are now visible.”

He didn’t specify any of the private equity opportunities that he could take up.

N Brown’s digital metamorphosis has certainly been impressive in recent periods, although the company’s profits fell in its latest year, despite rising sales at its core brands.

One of its growth strategies as part of this digital makeover has been to forge partnerships with dynamic brands in the fashion and e-tail space. Recent link-ups have seen it signing deals with Tesco Direct, Joe Browns for kidswear and Asos for its Jacomo menswear brand.