Debenhams poaches Asos business development lead

Debenhams has appointed Asos head of partner brands Jo Hunt as its new head of business development.

Hunt has played a key role in growing Asos’ third-party business across men’s and women’s wear, Drapers reported.

She spent 18 years at the fast fashion retailer, joining as a womenswear buyer in 2006 to 2013 before being promoted to head of marketplace from 2017 to 2024.

Debenhams has existed as an online-only department store marketplace since its brand name and website was snapped up out of administration by Boohoo for £55m in 2021.

The retailer posted a pre-tax profit of £3.27m for the year to 29 February 2024, up from a loss of £721,000 in the previous year.

Sales more than halved from £87.1m to £39.73m, while gross merchandise value (GMV) rose 65% to £359.69m.

Late last year, Debenhams boss Dan Finley was promoted to chief executive of Boohoo Group following the departure of John Lyttle.

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