Pepco CFO steps back after medical procedure, will return

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Nov 2, 2021

Pepco Group’s chief financial officer Nick Wharton is to take a temporary leave of absence following a recent successful medical procedure, the pan-European variety discount retailer said Tuesday.

His full-time duties will be overseen by Mat Ankers, the group’s Director of Strategy and Investor Relations, until Wharton’s expected return in early 2022.

Pepco owns and operates its eponymous chain, as well as the Dealz and Poundland chains and sells the Pep&Co fashion range.

Ankers joined the Pepco Group in 2015 to lead the Group Finance function and has subsequently performed both Finance Director and Transformation Director roles across the business.

In Wharton’s absence, the retailer continues to report strong annual revenues and forecasts profits at the upper end of market expectations.

Last month, the listed business talked of “strong trading and strategic progress achieved, despite a challenging Covid-impacted trading environment”.

In the year to September 30 the group saw revenue jump 19.4% at €4.122 billion year-on-year, led by the Pepco chain with 29.2% growth.