N Brown reshuffles C-suite after take-private acquisition approved

Simply Be, JD Williams and Jacamo owner N Brown Group has promoted Clare Empson to its newly created role of Chief Customer Operations Officer as part of its 'strategic transformation'.

Clare Empson joined the company in January 2024 as Director of Supply Chain. In her new role, she'll expand her remit to lead the Customer Operations domain, which includes responsibility for the overall customer journey and experience, including Supply Chain, Customer Service and Customer Insight. She will directly oversee the areas that impact the customer experience across N Brown’s brands.

This appointment follows January’s news that Dene Jones would become N Brown's new CEO of Retail, commencing 1 February 2025. Jones succeeded Sarah Welsh, who left after five years in the post.

Steve Johnson, Interim Chair and Group CEO at N Brown, said: "At the heart of our strategic transformation is a commitment to aligning N Brown’s structure with our customers’ needs and elevating their experience as they interact with our brands.

"The creation of the new Chief Customer Operations Officer role, which I’m delighted Clare will be stepping into, directly addresses this fundamental objective, bringing responsibility for the entire customer journey under a single remit."

Clare Empson, Chief Customer Operations Officer at N Brown, added: "I’m delighted to be taking on this new role at an exciting time for N Brown as we continue our evolution into a pureplay digital e-tailer, serving our loyal and otherwise underserved customers, offering them the best possible service at every stage of their journey."

In December 2024, N Brown poached Jasper Conran’s Trading and Logistics Director, Jo Parker, as its new Group Head of Merchandising.

Just before Christmas, N Brown Group also secured approval for a £191 million take-private acquisition led by Joshua Alliance, the retailer’s Non-Executive Director and its fourth largest shareholder.