U.K.-based JD Sports Fashion announced that as a result of an ongoing review of its internal corporate governance and control, it has decided to accelerate the separation of the roles of chairman and chief executive officer announced last year.
As a result, Peter Cowgill, executive chairman since 2004, will step down from his role with immediate effect.
Helen Ashton, currently a non-executive director and chair of the audit and risk committee, will become interim non-executive chair. She joined the board in November 2021 and has held various leadership positions, including ASOS, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, and CEO roles in high-growth private companies.
Currently a non-executive director and senior independent director, Kath Smith will become interim CEO. She has considerable experience in the sports and outdoor industry, where she was managing director of the Adidas and Reebok brands for over 25 years. Before joining the board, she was GM and vice president of The North Face EMEA. Smith will work closely with the senior leadership team to continue to execute the group’s strategy.
The process to recruit a CEO is ongoing, and a process to recruit a new non-executive chair is now underway, the retail company said.
Besides the JD stores, the company offers its products under the Size?, Footpatrol, Sprinter, Sport Zone, Perry Sport, Finish Line, Livestock, JD Gyms, Tessuti, Scotts, Blacks, Millets, Go Outdoors, Tiso, Fishing Republic, Naylors, Ultimate Outdoors and several other brands. It operates 2,636 stores in two dozen countries around the world.
