New Look footwear buying director leaves after 16 years

By

Matthieu Guinebault

Published
Apr 24, 2013

After 16 years at the British budget clothing retailer, Malcolm Collins has left his position as footwear buying director. There are no immediate plans to find a replacement.

An internal announcement was made last week, in which CEO Anders Krisiansen thanked Malcolm Collins for his “fantastic contribution” to the company and for putting the New Look brand “firmly on the map”. According to Drapers, Malcom Collins left to pursue new opportunities.

Between 1975 and 1996, Malcolm Collins worked for footwear company Clarks as senior buyer. He then joined ISA International before making the move across to New Look in July 1997. Since then, the British brand has made a real splash on the high-street, focusing on its affordable yet varied offering. In 2008, New Look claimed to be selling a pair of shoes every 20 seconds.

Today the group is the UK’s second largest clothing and accessories brand, present in 16 countries with 1100 stores across the world, half of which are in the UK. For the 2011/2012 financial period, the company generated turnover of 1.75 billion euros, down 2% on the previous year.