Harvey Nicholls boss quits business after 25 years

The chief executive of luxury department store Harvey Nicholls has resigned following a strategy dispute with the company’s owner.

Manju Malhotra had been with the business for 25 years, joining the Knightsbridge store in 1998 as an accountant. She had been chief executive since January 2020.

She has now left the company following a dispute with its owner, Hong Kong-based Sir Dickson Poon. The Daily Telegraph reported that Malhotra had wanted to make a number of significant changes at the business after several years of losses.

It has been a difficult few years for the department store model, with chains such as Debenhams and Beales collapsing since the Pandemic, while rivals such as House of Fraser have closed a number of stores.

Malhotra will remain in her post until December before being succeeded by Pearson Poon, who is an executive director and the son of Sir Dickson.

She said: “I have had the most amazing 25 years at Harvey Nichols, starting from a member of the finance team to becoming chief executive […] Together, we have galvanised Harvey Nichols, leveraging its position in the market as a luxury destination delivering exceptional in-store and digital customer experiences.”