Ted Baker hires chief people officer

Ted Baker has hired a new chief people officer, nearly a year after the premium clothing company came under pressure to explain one of the worst HR disasters in UK fashion.

Peter Collyer, a highly experienced human resources professional with significant experience at both national and international retail companies, has joined to oversee all aspects of human resource management, practices and operations.

He was most recently people experience director at Asos, and prior to that, he was senior vice president of global HR at Claire’s Stores. He also spent 12 years at Walt Disney as senior vice president of human resources.

“Peter is a respected and skilled HR professional with highly complementary international brand experience. His appointment will further strengthen the Ted Baker management team and support our continued growth and development as a global lifestyle brand,” said Lindsay Page, CEO of Ted Baker.

Earlier this year, controversy surrounding the firm’s founder Ray Kelvin and allegations of misconduct led the 31-year old company to implement changes to its HR policies and procedures.

Kelvin was forced to leave the company after being accused of inappropriate behaviour by several former employees. Whilst Ted Baker embarked on an independent investigation into the alleged claims, the brand saw its reputation badly hurt for its lack of transparency.

Shares in Ted Baker, which have slumped in the last 12 months, experienced another fall in October on the back of a profit warning. The first half of the year was tough for the retail firm, sending revenues down and pushing the company into the red for the first time since it floated on the stock exchange in 1997 with a £23m loss.

Ted Baker hires chief people officer

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