Stephen Byrne bids farewell to Primark technology team and heads to recycling specialist Enva
Stephen Byrne has joined Enva, a provider of recycling and resource recovery solutions, as Group IT Director. He was previously at Primark, where he served as Global Head of Infrastructure.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “Enva is on an exciting journey with technology at the core of its strategy to grow the business. My thanks to the entire team for the warm welcome.”
“Last week, I concluded my time with the Primark Technology team after five years. I want to thank everyone I worked with during that period, especially the Infrastructure team and those who partnered with us daily (you know who you are!!) to support the business. Primark will continue to grow at a rapid pace, and I wish you all the best for the future.”
CFO
Primark recently announced the appointment of Lucy Slinger as Chief Financial Officer. She joins from her role as Deputy CFO at Ikea franchisee Ingka Group, which operates across 32 countries. Prior to this, she spent more than two decades at Shell in a range of senior finance leadership roles, including Financial Reporting, Corporate Finance, Group Planning & Appraisal, and as CFO of the Global Aviation business.
The move comes as owner Associated British Foods spins off Primark from its food businesses, telling investors that the retailer will be better positioned to grow on its own.
Eoin Tonge, Chief Executive at Primark, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Lucy to Primark at such an important moment for the business. She brings deep financial expertise from large global organisations, alongside an impressive track record in disciplined investment and operational performance. As we accelerate our growth strategy and prepare for a standalone future, her leadership will be invaluable. I look forward to working closely with her as we shape the next phase of Primark’s growth.”
Slinger said: “I am excited to be joining Primark at such a pivotal point in its journey. It is a unique business with a strong growth ambition and distinctive customer proposition, built on making great fashion accessible while continuing to drive quality and sustainability. I look forward to working with Eoin and colleagues across the business as Primark continues to grow internationally and invest for the future.”
Online move
Primark recently responded to media reports that it was working on its first ever venture into the online home delivery space.
And we regret to inform fans of the fast fashion and homeware retailer that such a move ain’t happening any time soon.
The fast fashion and homeware retailer recently lost out to Marks & Spencer in a bidding war for an Asos online fulfilment centre in Lichfield, Staffordshire, which sold for £67.5 million.
The Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that Primark had identified this as a step towards ramping up the digital side of its business.
“They know they need to go online…They wanted this warehouse as it has automation equipment that lets you do delivery directly to peoples’ homes,” a source told the newspaper.
However, a Primark spokesperson told us: “Our position on home delivery remains unchanged. As part of regular reviews of our distribution network to support future growth, we explored this site as a potential option for our Click & Collect service in Great Britain.”
Primark has long resisted going all in on online delivery, arguing that its discounter status and tight margins that come with this cannot absorb the operational costs of picking, packing and shipping orders, or the impact of online returns.
But in recent years it has started to make moves in this area, building a Click & Collect service, for instance, and also launching its first ever mobile customer app in the UK. Brits are now joining Irish and Italian shoppers who have been using the app since last year.
Kari Rodgers, UK Retail Director at Primark, said of the UK launch: “We know our customers expect great value and an effortless shopping experience, wherever they are. Our new app puts exactly that in the palm of their hand, from personalised updates on the latest trends to faster, more convenient ways to browse and shop via Click & Collect. This is just the next step in bringing everyday value to more UK shoppers in a way that’s simple, seamless and built around their needs.”
Matt Houston, Chief Customer & Digital Officer at Primark, added: “Following the successful launch of our app in Ireland and Italy, we’re excited to bring an even smarter, more connected shopping experience to the UK. Customers are increasingly turning to digital tools that make shopping easier and more rewarding, and we’re confident that our app will deliver an intuitive, personalised experience that’s been carefully designed to help them get the most out of every Primark visit.”
