Topshop loses top director
Monday, 06 August 2007
Topshop brand director Karyn Fenn has resigned from the high street chain owned by billionaire Sir Philip Green just nine months into the job. The unexpected resignation follows the highly publicised departure of the store's previous brand director, Jane Shepherdson, last October.
The Observer has learnt that Topshop has seen a flurry of resignations in recent months: its finance director has gone and the marketing director leaves at the end of this month. The departures raise questions over the future profitability and direction of the jewel of Green's retail empire which also includes BHS, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Burton. Following Ms Shepherdson's resignation in October, rumours abounded she quit as she had not been suitably consulted on the decision to employ the controversial supermodel Kate Moss.
Both she and Sir Philip later denied the claims, saying the move had nothing to do with the decision to hire Ms Moss as a designer.
More recently the High Street chain was forced to pay thousands of pounds in legal costs and destroy almost 2,000 dresses after fashion house Chloe accused it of copying a design.
Meanwhile, in September last year profits at Arcadia's BHS chain tumbled by 60%, prompting Sir Philip to admit the firm had made some wrong decisions.
The chain is currently engaged in an ambitious expansion drive across the UK and overseas including its first attempts to break into the US market.
