Blow to take up post in Arnotts

NIGEL BLOW, the former head of Brown Thomas, will replace David Riddiford as the chief executive of Arnotts’ retail business.

Mr Blow has been working as a consultant to Arnotts since March. Mr Riddiford has been head of the store’s retail operations since 2006.

The appointment of Mr Blow to lead the company’s retail operations is the latest in a series of changes to the management structure at the company, although this is the first high-profile change in the retail side of the business.

Earlier this month, Anglo Irish Bank and Ulster Bank took joint ownership of Arnotts as part of a major debt restructuring deal.

US firm Palladin Capital Group is now running the iconic department store, which is heavily indebted to the two banks.

Palladin’s chief executive Mark Schwartz replaced Richard Nesbitt as chairman of Arnotts in August. Mr Schwartz indicated there would be a full review of senior executive management at the department store.

Last month Ray Hernan, former chief financial officer of Brown Thomas, was appointed as head of finance at Arnotts.

Brian Kearney, the former chief executive of the Arnotts Group, whose responsibilities included handling the company’s property assets as part of the proposed €750 million Northern Quarter retail project, has also departed the company.

Mr Riddiford was hired by Arnotts in 2006 to rejuvenate what was then a jaded fashion store. The Oxford-educated Englishman held previous roles with Levi Strauss and the Burton Group in Britain.

Nigel Blow was buying and merchandise director at Harrods before he succeeded Dalton Phillips as chief executive of Brown Thomas in early 2007.