Kate Seljeflot and Peter Wood have joined the board of the British Retail Consortium as Non-Executive Directors.

Kate Seljeflot is the Chief People Officer at Kingfisher, a company whose brands include B&Q and Screwfix. Kate has a breadth of experience in retail and business transformation, built across an international career in human resources. Prior to Kingfisher, Kate worked in a similar role at Costa Coffee, another major UK retailer. Kate has held senior positions in Diageo and Shell, both listed companies on the FTSE100.

Peter Wood is CEO of the global fashion brands AllSaints and John Varvatos. He joined British brand AllSaints as CFO in 2010, then worked as COO before being appointed CEO in 2018;American luxury menswear brand John Varvatos was added to the group during the pandemic. The combined businesses employ approximately 2,500 people and have a strong digital presence alongside a physical store presence in 20 countries.  Peter is a Chartered Accountant and prior to AllSaints he was CFO at Vets Now and USC.

Kate and Peter will succeed Melanie Steel and Benjamin Fletcher, who are stepping down in May and September respectively.

Tony DeNunzio CBE, Chairman of the British Retail Consortium, said:

“I’m very excited to welcome Kate and Peter to the BRC board. Their experience and drive will help the BRC meet the needs of our many members now and in the future. The Covid-19 pandemic brought about a level of business disruption unheard-of in our generation, and I believe our board is well placed to support the BRC to meet the challenges that lie ahead, not least the huge rise in costs being faced by the whole industry. I thank Melanie and Ben for their significant contribution to the success of the BRC and the value it generates for its members.”

Kate Seljeflot, Chief People Officer at Kingfisher, said:

“Retail plays an incredibly important role in providing quality jobs in local communities, developing essential skills, and championing social mobility. I want to put my passion for people into supporting the BRC and its members at this critical juncture, in particular by driving forward its Diversity & Inclusion Charter and its new Learning business. As labour markets around the world tighten, it will be those retailers who truly engage and develop their people who will be rewarded."

Peter Wood, Chief Executive Officer of AllSaints, said:

“The BRC provided strong leadership and support for our industry throughout the pandemic, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to become more involved.  The ways customers can engage and shop with retailers continue to evolve and expand at pace, and as the largest private sector employer, our industry has a fantastic pool of talent to work with. I look forward to offering my passion and experience to help the BRC and its members harness these positive dynamics and overcome the challenges that we face."