Holland & Barrett chief executive steps down
Holland & Barrett’s chief executive Peter Aldis has stepped down after ten years of heading up the health and wellness retail chain.
In addition, Steve Carson has been promoted to the role of group managing director in which he will become the senior operating leader of Holland & Barrett. Meanwhile, former Home Retail Group chief executive John Walden will undertake an expanded range of responsibilities as executive chairman.
Having worked with Holland & Barrett for 29 years, Aldis’s time as chief executive included the launch of the retailer’s clean beauty offering, international expansion and 39 consecutive quarters of like-for-like growth. Following his departure, Aldis will remain an advisor to the management team to help ensure a successful transition.
Aldis said: “I am immensely proud of Holland & Barrett and of what we have achieved these past 10 years, most importantly helping our customers live a happier and healthier life. I am also pleased to be leaving the business in a strong position for the future and in the very capable hands of John Walden and Steve Carson who will take it on to the next level.”
Holland & Barrett has recently developed a new strategy as it looks to grow its digital capabilities. It will be driven by Walden who will be supported by Carson and the Hollnad & Barrett executive team. Walden has been chairman of the business since October and a non-executive director since 2017.
Meanwhile, Carson has been Holland & Barrett’s managing director for the UK and Ireland since April 2018. He was previously director of retail and customer operations at Sainsbury’s Argos, where he was responsible for 840 stores and 30,000 staff. Carson was a key member of the Argos leadership team that was credited with transforming Argos’s digital offering prior to its sale to Sainsbury’s by Home Retail Group in 2016.
Walden said: “I am delighted with Steve Carson’s promotion to group managing director. Having worked with Steve in several prior roles, I have seen first-hand his exceptional leadership skills in driving operating performance and transformational change. Steve has worked closely with Peter over the past year and has made immediate positive impact at Holland & Barrett. I look forward to working closely with Steve and our strong executive team.”
