Matalan has lost another key executive. The value fashion/lifestyle retailer’s chief customer and omnichannel officer, Ali Jones, has left following the departure of CEO Jo Whitfield last October and chief trading officer Ben Smith, who departed last week.
During her Matalan tenure, Jones was responsible for leading the retailer’s marketing, e-commerce and international teams, establishing the new unit “to connect all customer touch points and provide further clarity and accountability for its customers”.
Jones joined Matalan in April 2023 from the Co-op Group, where she was customer and community director between 2018-2022. Prior to the Co-op, she held senior brand and marketing roles at Woolworths Australia, Debenhams, M&S, Next and Arcadia Group. Notably, she was marketing director at Debenhams for almost 11 years (August 1999-May 2010).
In a short release, a Matalan spokesperson said: “Ali Jones… has left her role with the business. We thank Ali for her contribution to Matalan and wish her all the best for the future.”
Whitfield, also a former Co-op exec, departed abruptly before the important Christmas trading period and her 18-month role is currently being overseen by Matalan chair Karl-Heinz Holland, who is executive chair until a successor is appointed.
Smith joined Matalan in March 2023 as interim buying and merchandising director and became chief trading officer two months later.
In its most recent results, published in June last year, Matalan reported a 6% drop in revenues, while EBITDA jumped 92% year-on-year to £53m. It had also cut pre-tax losses by 44% to £60 million in the year to 24 February.
