Aspinall to leave Fortnum & Mason
Beverley Aspinall is to stand down as chief executive of Fortnum & Mason after seven years in the role. She will leave the world famous grocer at the end of May “to pursue new challenges.”
Aspinall joined Fortnum in 2005 when it made a pre-tax loss of £1.2 million on sales of £39 million. The business has now been turned around with Fortnum reporting a pre-tax profit of £1.1 million on revenues of £55 million last year.
Prior to Fortnum, Aspinall worked for 25 years at the John Lewis Partnership. Commenting on the announcement Aspinall said: “I feel the time is right to move to new challenges. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Fortnum & Mason and managing the business through some key times of change and historic moments.”
Fortnum, which is controlled by the Canadian Weston family’s charitable trust, has expanded its overseas footprint during Aspinall’s tenure with concession stores in Japan as well as a wholesale business in more than 17 countries. Aspinall also oversaw a £24 million refurbishment of the store in London’s Piccadilly to mark its 300th anniversary in 2007.
Last month the store was visited by the Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
Kate Hobhouse, the company’s chairman, said: “I would like to thank Beverley for her hard work and loyalty over the past seven years and wish her every success in the future.”
