UK Fashion Group ASOS Names New Finance Boss 

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
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UK Fashion Group ASOS Names New Finance Boss 

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)

British online fashion retailer ASOS on Tuesday named Aaron Izzard, director of group finance, as its new CFO as the current finance boss, Dave Murray, will be stepping down on June 30 to pursue other opportunities.

Murray, a former Amazon executive who joined ASOS as CFO in April 2024, will remain with the company for a handover period, ASOS said.

Izzard, who joined ASOS as head of retail finance in 2017, has held several finance roles at the company over more than eight years. His appointment will be effective July 1.

Since the end of April 2024, when Murray took up the role of CFO, ASOS shares are down roughly 8% as of Monday's close.

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years.

However, the British retailer could benefit from new headwinds facing its Chinese competitors, including high US import tariffs under President Donald Trump and changes to customs rules on direct-to-consumer shipments in both countries.

In April, ASOS said it was well-positioned to withstand the impact of the US tariffs and reported a rise in half-year earnings, signaling early progress in efforts to revive its fast-fashion appeal among younger shoppers.



Burberry Shows Early Signs of Recovery as 1st Quarter Sales Fall Less than Expected

FILE PHOTO: A Burberry store is seen in London, Britain, January 16, 2023.  REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Burberry store is seen in London, Britain, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
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Burberry Shows Early Signs of Recovery as 1st Quarter Sales Fall Less than Expected

FILE PHOTO: A Burberry store is seen in London, Britain, January 16, 2023.  REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Burberry store is seen in London, Britain, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo

Burberry's retail sales fell by a less-than-expected 1% in the first quarter, it reported on Friday, in early signs of a recovery for the British luxury brand struggling with underperformance.

Shares in Burberry, which have more than doubled since September, rose 5% in early London trade.

Known for its trench coats and check pattern scarves, Burberry is using its British heritage designs to try to win back customers under the leadership of CEO Josh Schulman, who took over a year ago.

Comparable sales returned to growth in Europe, the company said, while trading in the Americas strengthened. Sales fell in China and in the rest of Asia, but the rate of decline was around half the level seen in the previous quarter.

"The improvement in our first-quarter comparable sales, strength in our core categories, and uptick in brand desirability give us conviction in the path ahead," Schulman said, adding that the autumn collection was being "well received".

Burberry has issued several profit warnings in recent years, and as part of its turnaround drive since Schulman took over, it plans to cut a fifth of its global workforce, a radical cost-cutting measure that investors have welcomed.

The 1% drop in overall comparable retail sales in the first quarter, which ended on June 28, beat analysts' forecasts for a 3% decline in a consensus provided by the company, and improved on a 6% fall in the previous quarter.

According to Reuters, analysts at Citi said the brand had reported its third consecutive quarter of like-for-like improvement since Schulman launched its new strategy last November, implying comparable sales could turn positive in the current quarter.

"In a quarter marked by further macro and geopolitical pressures and weaker tourist spending in Europe and Japan, Burberry has likely held up better than peers quarter-on-quarter," they said.