Morleys Department Stores appoints new chief executive

Morleys Department Stores has announced that chief executive Allan Winstanley is set to step down at the end of December 2025 and Ray Clacher will take over as his successor on 5 January 2026. 

Clacher will join Morleys from online retailer BrandAlley, where he most recently served as chief commercial officer. Before that, he held senior roles within the Li and Fung Group, including group managing director positions at Gieves and Hawkes, Kent and Curwen and Cerruti 1881. 

Earlier in his career, Clacher worked at department stores D H Evans and House of Fraser.

News of Clacher’s appointment comes as part of a series of senior leadership changes, which includes the departure of buying director Darren Gittins on 30 April 2026 after deciding to take a planned break to travel. Gittins has spent 13 years at Morleys and was closely involved in shaping the group’s buying strategy. 

Clacher said: “I am thrilled to be joining Morleys Department Stores at such an exciting time, with the opening of Jollys in August 2026. The business has a proud history and a strong position in the UK department store market, and I look forward to working with the team to build on this success and drive growth in the years ahead.”

Bernard Dreesmann, chairman of Morleys, added: “Ray’s breadth of experience across premium fashion, commercial retail and department stores makes him exceptionally well placed to lead Morleys into its next chapter. We are delighted to welcome him to the business and wish him every success in his new role.”