DFS appoints former Holland and Barrett CEO as NED

DFS Furniture has announced the appointment of former Holland and Barrett CEO Tony Buffin as an independent non-executive director.

Buffin was the leader of the health and wellness retailer between 2019 and 2021 and will join the DFS board with immediate effect.

He is also the chair of Nobia AB, a kitchen specialist with headquarters in Stockholm where it is listed. He is also a non-executive director of Applied Nutrition which was recently listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Buffin will also be appointed as a member of the audit committee, remuneration committee, RSC committee and nomination committees, and as the designated non-executive director.

DFS chair Steve Johnson said: “I am delighted that Tony is joining the Board. His significant retail experience is directly relevant to the DFS’ strategy. I look forward to working closely with Tony as we move forward with our strategy to accelerate growth and develop our home offering.”

In the half-year ended 29 December 2024, DFS saw its profits wind up between £16m and £17m, up by £7m-£8m against the prior year.

It comes as group order intake rose by 10.1%, supported by growth initiatives and higher than expected market share gains for both DFS and Sofology, with Sofology’s orders soaring 19.1%.

DFS said it continues to expect full year growth in profits and cash flow, with FY25 profits set to be in-line with current consensus.

It added that profits will likely be weighted to the first half in light of a “cautious view” on market demand in H2 based on UK economic performance post-budget.

In addition, it warned of an increase in operational costs in H2 due to the rises in national insurance contributions, the national living wage and higher than anticipated interest rates.