Morleys appoints Melanie Smallwood as chief trading officer
Morley Department Stores has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Melanie Smallwood to the newly created role of chief trading officer.
Due to join the business in April, Smallwood has over 30 years of senior retail leadership experience, including working with the Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores.
Subscribe to TRBMost recently, she was chief commercial and brand partnerships officer at Global Fashion Group, where she led trading and commercial strategy across 12 countries.
At Morleys, Smallwood will lead the group’s buying and merchandising function while reporting directly to chief executive Ray Clacher and the board.
In recent months, Morleys has been working to bolster its senior leadership team, which has included hiring Judd Wilson as chief financial officer in October and Clacher as chief executive in January.
Bernard Dreesmann, chairman of Morley Department Stores, said: “We are extremely flattered that Melanie has agreed to join us at this critical time for the business.
“Our new management team, together with a multi-million pound investment into our latest new store, Jolly’s of Bath, opening later this year, signifies our commitment to strengthening the independent department store sector. Melanie’s extensive department store career will prove invaluable to us.”
Clacher said: “Many of us in premium/luxury retail know Melanie well. I could not be happier that we managed to convince Melanie to join us on this exciting journey for this group, which will proudly be 100 years old in 2027.
“I look forward to working with Melanie and all the senior team to show that the community department is still a vital mainstay of the British high street.”
The group’s family of stores includes Morleys Brixton, Morleys Bexleyheath, Elys Wimbledon, Camp Hopson Newbury, Pearsons Enfield, Roomes Upminster, Selbys Holloway Road, and Jolly’s Bath.
