Morleys appoints former House of Fraser exec as new CEO

Independent department store group Morleys has appointed retail industry veteran Allan Winstanley as its new Chief Executive, effective as of January 2025.

Winstanley, a former Executive Director of Menswear, Beauty & Childrenswear at House of Fraser, where he spent over nine years from January 2005 to March 2014 – ending up as Executive Director of Women’s Apparel, Accessories & Beauty – will take over from Nigel Blow who has been CEO of Morleys for the last eight years.

Winstanley returns to the UK having worked as Chief Merchandise Officer at Myer department stores in Melbourne, Australia, for the past six and a half years.

Prior to that, he was President of Sears and Kmart Apparel from October 2016 to May 2018, based in San Fransisco in the USA, having joined from a role as Chief Merchandise Officer at De Bijenkorf (Selfridges Group) in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where he spent two and a half years.

Before joining House of Fraser, Winstanley spent four years at Moss Bros Group, culminating as Buying Director, and before that was Formalwear Buyer at NEXT from March 1998 to October 2000.

It was at Marks & Spencer though where he really carved his career path, spending over 20 years at the British high street giant – the last eight and a half years as Menswear Buyer.

Additionally, Winstanley has previously held director roles with the British Fashion Council (BFC) and the UK Fragrance Foundation.

Morleys Group comprises of eight stores; Morleys in Brixton, Bexleyheath and Tooting, as well as Elys in Wimbledon, Pearsons in Enfield, Camp Hopson in Newbury, James Selby in north London and Roomes Fashion and Home in Upminster.