Mountain Warehouse names Marcus Ward as new CEO as founder steps down
Mountain Warehouse’s founder is stepping down as chief executive after almost 30 years and will be succeeded by chief financial and operating officer Marcus Ward.
Mark Neale has been at the helm of the business since it was established in 1997, and has overseen its growth to record annual turnover, which in the year to 22 February exceeded £500 million for the first time.
Having worked with the company for almost 20 years, Ward will become chief executive on 1 September.
Subscribe to TRBAfter qualifying as a chartered accountant with KPMG, he went on to work in senior financial roles at Taylor Nelson Sofres and MASMI before joining Mountain Warehouse as finance director in 2007. He then moved to his current role as chief financial and operating officer in 2019.
Although he is stepping down as chief executive, Neale will retain his role of executive chair. He told The Times that he wanted to focus on Mountain Warehouse’s international expansion and the Animal clothing brand it acquired in 2021.
In further news, former M&S store director Marsha Smith has been appointed as Mountain Warehouse’s global retail director. Prior to M&S, she worked in various senior roles at IKEA, most recently as country deputy retail manager UK/IE.
In a post on LinkedIn, Smith said: “Learning more about the Mountain Warehouse Group’s entrepreneurial journey has been fascinating.
“With 560 stores spanning nine countries starting in the UK and now spanning as far as North America and Australia, their retail story is super impressive and with significant growth plans,
“I can’t wait to get started in leading the retail business. I’ve had a wonderfully warm welcome so far thanks to the great team I’m lucky enough to be working together with. Here’s to our bright and exciting future.”
