JD Sports non-exec director Kath Smith to step down after seven years
JD Sports has announced that Kath Smith will step down as senior non-executive director on 19 January 2027.
It has also confirmed that it has begun an independent search process to identify her replacement.
Subscribe to TRBSmith joined the retailer’s board in May 2019 and became senior independent director and designated workforce engagement non-executive director in February 2022. She led the process to appoint Peter Agnefjäll as non-executive chair, who joined the board in September.
During her tenure, Smith has sat on the audit and risk, nominations and ESG committees. She also served as interim chief executive from May to September 2022, and was a member of the remuneration committee from February 2020 until October 2022.
As workforce engagement director, Smith has worked with staff across the group, including through employee mentoring. She has also supported JD’s inclusion initiatives, taking part in International Women’s Day, “JD UP” and The JD Foundation Gala.
Smith said: “The step change in JD in recent years is significant, with high calibre leadership in place and significant investment across the organisation to build solid foundations for future growth.
“JD offers a genuinely unique proposition to the market, supported by carefully curated retail destinations and outstanding in-store teams that I have spent a lot of time with in my role.
“The business is fundamentally in a strong place and I’m looking forward to watching the next phase of its journey. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone at JD and all its shareholders for their support and engagement throughout my time with the business.”
Régis Schultz, chief executive officer of JD Sports Fashion, said: “Kath has offered great counsel and support both to me and the wider business during her tenure as senior independent director.
“Her extensive experience and deep understanding of our brand partners has been invaluable to JD, and instrumental in helping us to strengthen our group-wide proposition.
“On behalf of the senior leadership team, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Kath for everything she’s done over the last seven years.”
