A former senior govt at Harrods has deserted plans to change into the brand new boss of Fenwick.
Nigel Blow had been as a result of change into the corporate’s new chief govt, however has now determined to withdraw from the function, a spokesperson for the retail chain introduced.
Fenwick, which runs eight department shops throughout the UK together with a flagship department in Newcastle, didn’t clarify why.
It comes after a gaggle of legal professionals introduced final month that they meant to launch authorized motion towards Harrods amid a string of allegations about its former proprietor Mohamed al Fayed.
Dozens of ladies have come ahead to accuse the retail tycoon, who died final yr aged 94, of crimes together with sexual assault, harassment and rape.
It adopted an investigation by the BBC into the remedy of staff by Fayed, who additionally owned Fulham FC between 1997 and 2013.
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Mohamed al Fayed died final yr. Pic: AP
Mr Blow labored at Harrods between 1992 and 2007, when it was owned by Fayed, however there is no such thing as a suggestion he was concerned in any wrongdoing.
Throughout his time on the chain, he rose to change into its chief service provider and was appointed to its board in 2003.
He left the corporate in 2007 to affix Irish retailer Brown Thomas, earlier than becoming a member of shirt-maker Turnbull & Asser – one other agency owned by Fayed’s firm.
Mr Blow left in 2017 and was later named chief govt of Morleys department shops.
A Fenwick spokesperson stated: “In July 2024, we announced that we would be appointing Nigel Blow as chief executive of Fenwick.
“Nigel Blow has knowledgeable us that he’ll not be taking on this place.”
Meanwhile, a lawyer representing alleged victims of Fayed has appealed to women thinking of bringing a legal claim to take a “calm and thought of strategy”.
Claire Glasgow, a specialist personal injury solicitor at Fieldfisher, said: “It’d really feel simple to get caught up within the present furore round accusations towards Mr al Fayed, not least since a deceased individual can’t be libelled, however the proper processes have to be adopted to make sure justice for girls injured over so a few years.”
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Harrods division retailer in west London
A press release from the corporate added: “While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today, while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future.”
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Stewardess ‘sacked after al Fayed assault’
The Metropolitan Police stated final week it was investigating a string of recent claims on prime of earlier experiences made by 19 separate ladies.
The pressure stated that whereas it was not potential to convey felony proceedings towards somebody who had died, detectives would nonetheless “fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences”.
