It's the right time to go, says Carpetright's Lord Harris who is set to retire
HIGH street carpet king Lord Harris of Peckham, is to retire from the Carpetright empire he started 25 years ago.
The veteran retailer will step down as full-time executive chairman in July, when new chief executive Wilf Walsh joins the company.
Lord Harris, 71, will finally leave the board in September.
It is his second attempt to take a step back.
After a 17-month spell as part-time chairman he returned to day-to-day control of the company last October when the previous chief, Darren Shapland, left.
I am confident that I will be leaving the business in safe hands
Started with a single shop in 1988, Carpetright now has 614 stores.
Lord Harris said: “I will be 72 this year and shareholders will be aware that I have been planning a managed hand-over of my responsibilities for some time.
"I am confident that I will be leaving the business in safe hands.”
Walsh, chairman of betting firm Fortuna Entertainment, said Lord Harris would be a hard act to follow, but added: “Carpetright is a great brand and I am looking forward to working with the team to drive profitability and share going forward.”