Matalan announces new chair and CEO

Matalan has appointed Karl-Heinz Holland and Jo Whitfield CBE as the retailer’s new chair and chief executive respectively.

The clothing retailer’s interim CEO Nigel Oddy has concluded his six-month stint in the role.

Holland has numerous years of retail and consumer goods experience, having spent 23 years at Lidl including six as CEO, helping lead the brand’s expansion across Europe.

He has also worked as CEO of DIA Group, overseeing 5,700 neighbourhood stores across Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Portugal.

Since May 2018, he has held the role of CEO at Takko Fashion, a European discount fashion retailer. From January 2021 until April 2022, he also served as the company’s executive chairman.

Whitfield has most recently served as chief executive of the Co-Op’s food division, taking charge of the group’s retail, wholesale, online, and franchise businesses, as well as the Co-Op’s property division.

Prior to her roles at the Co-Op, she also held senior leadership positions at Asda, and has worked as head of finance at Matalan between 2002 and 2008.

Michael Phelps, partner at Tresidor Investment Management, one of the Matalan’s anchor investors, said: “Anyone close to the retail world will know the experience and focus that both Karl-Heinz and Jo will bring to their roles. They have a proven track-record of making positive impacts in value retail and are the perfect fit for Matalan as it focuses on this next stage of its growth. They will provide strong leadership and know-how which will help accelerate the transformation of the Company.”