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The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has appointed Jo Whitfield CBE as its next chair, succeeding Andy Higginson when his term ends on 2 October 2025.
Whitfield has 25 years’ experience in retail, including senior roles at Matalan, the Co-operative Group and Asda.
She is currently a non-executive and audit chair at Asda, as well as a non-executive and chair of the ethics committee at Factory International, host of the Manchester International Festival.
She previously founded and chaired The Grocery Girls network and served as retail sector lead on the Women’s Business Council. She has also campaigned with the BRC for greater legal protections for retail shopworkers.
Whitfield will be joined on the BRC board by Eve Williams, vice-president and general manager of eBay UK. Williams was appointed to her current role in 2023 after holding senior marketing and customer roles at eBay and Asos.
The BRC represents more than 200 retailers and brands, with thousands of smaller retailers represented through trade association members.
Whitfield said: “I’m honoured to be joining the BRC as its first female chair, and to be supporting Helen [Dickinson] and her team at such a pivotal time. Retail is an incredibly valuable industry, employing over 3 million people who support their families through their work.
“Retailers are at the heart of communities, and we’re acutely aware of the many government policies currently under consideration that could either support or hinder our industry. This is a critical moment for us all and now more than ever, we need a strong, united voice.”
Williams added: “Retailers are currently navigating a truly unprecedented pace of change. The challenges of sustainability, digital transformation, and creating fair opportunity across the industry are all passion points for me and areas where the BRC has achieved much already.”
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, concluded: “Jo and Eve join the board as we deal with multiple public policy headwinds and more to do on big issues like climate change, inclusion, and creating the right environment for growth and investment. It’s great to welcome two more women to our board and our first female chair.”
