This is the sixth year Retail Week has run its annual power list, but rarely can there have been quite so much change in the upper echelons of the industry in the space of 12 months.
This is the sixth year Retail Week has run its annual power list, but rarely can there have been quite so much change in the upper echelons of the industry in the space of 12 months.
Sir Terry Leahy remains in the top spot for now, but will be gone by next year and while his retirement is the biggest retail news in a long time, there have been plenty of other changes in the upper reaches of the industry. It is goodbye to Asda’s Andy Bond and Primark founder Arthur Ryan, while Sir Stuart Rose slips a few places as he prepares to step down as chairman of Marks & Spencer.
A notable trend in this year’s table is the rise of politics. David Cameron is the highest placed non-retailer ever in this table, and with good reason as the measures that the new coalition Government takes as it wrestles with the UK’s enormous budget deficit will have a major impact on how consumers behave over what are likely to be challenging months ahead.
But it is not just Cameron. Never before have retailers been so political, whether overtly, in the shape of Simon Wolfson, whose new working peerage and closeness to Cameron puts him right at the heart of the new political landscape, or less directly affiliated but if anything more vocal, in the way Justin King and Ian Cheshire have spoken out on the proposed National Insurance rise.
In the meantime two debonair statesmen of the industry continue their steady ascent in the shape of new M&S chief executive Marc Bolland and John Lewis Partnership chairman Charlie Mayfield. Leahy’s successor Philip Clarke makes his debut in 16th place, but is sure to rise further after he takes the helm next March.
Elsewhere in the table, ecommerce is making a growing impact, with home-grown successes like Nick Robertson of Asos rubbing shoulders with global giants like Amazon
and Apple as they continue to make a profound impact on UK retail.
But where are the women? The two Kates - Swann of WHSmith and Bostock of M&S - continue their steady rises up the table but in an industry that relies so heavily on female labour, to have only two women in the top 30 and the highest ranked at just 14 is not something to be proud of.
As ever, the list is a subjective creation of the Retail Week editorial team, and we’d love to hear your suggestions on who we’ve forgotten - or who perhaps we should have!
No comments yet