Simply Be, JD Williams and Jacamo fashion retailer N Brown has appointed Jasper Conran’s Trading and Logistics Director, Jo Parker, as its new Group Head of Merchandising.
Parker has spent the past four years and four months in her role at Jasper Conran. Prior to that, she was at Debenhams for almost 12 years, the last three as Head of Merchandise Planning.
The news follows the departure of N Brown Group’s Merchandising Director, Matt Dawson, and Group Sourcing, Sustainability, Quality and Fit Director, Angela Gaskell, earlier this year.
In July, a further reshuffle saw Sara Bradley promoted to Director of Product at N Brown, assuming direct responsibility for the Product Chapter (Buying, Merchandising and Fit, Sourcing and Sustainability).
On Jo Parker’s new appointment, an N Brown spokesperson told TheIndustry.fashion: “We are pleased to welcome Jo Parker as our new Group Head of Merchandising.
“Jo brings a wealth of experience across retail having worked at Debenhams for 11 years in various senior trading and merchandising roles and for the past four years as Trading and Logistics Director for Jasper Conran.”
In October, N Brown agreed to a £191 million takeover by Joshua Alliance. He already owned 6.6% of N Brown, while the other members of the Alliance family – including former executive chairman Lord David Alliance, who built up N Brown in the 1960s – own a controlling 53.4% stake.
It was also reported that Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group will sell its 20.3% stake in N Brown, but it “looks forward to a strategic relationship” with Joshua Alliance and N Brown post acquisition.
