Selfridges managing director exits

Simon Forster, managing director of Selfridges has departed from the department store after just over a year in the position.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, Forster “abruptly” left last week amid a “loss in confidence in his leadership.” Selfridges said Forster decided to “pursue other interests”, but Insiders told The Sunday Telegraph “he left by mutual agreement.”

Foster joined Debenhams in 2012 and has also held multiple positions at TK Maxx and Great Universal Stores.

Forster’s predecessor Anne Pitcher has been appointed as interim managing director.

She will combine her day-to-day roles with her existing job managing Selfridges Group, the umbrella company which includes retailers Brown Thomas and Holt Renfrew.

Pitcher told The Sunday Telegraph: “I want to thank Simon for the significant contribution he has made to Selfridges over the years. Under his leadership, the business has continued to grow and thrive. Selfridges has a talented leadership team in place, and we continue to build that across the company.”

The department store has four sites across the UK and also sells to 130 countries online.