The Power List 2015

1. Sebastian James 

• Group chief executive, Dixons Carphone
• 2014 rank: 16

Sebastian James has surged up the Power List to seize the crown from Lord Wolfson after a gangbuster year.

His key achievement has been overseeing the merger of Dixons Retail and Carphone Warehouse with aplomb.

And, in hanging his hat on a vision of the future in which connected devices play an ever more important role in shoppers’ lives, James has wholeheartedly embraced the shift – a decision that has led him to devise a new business model.

His daring gamble is being watched avidly by others as the retail industry grapples with the scale of change heralded by shoppers’ adoption of new technology.

The ‘merger of equals’ created a company with about a £10bn turnover and more than 40,000 employees across 14 European countries. In the process, Dixons Carphone was propelled into the FTSE 100.

Already the integration of the two businesses is well ahead of expectations since the completion of the merger in August 2014. While James admits there is still much to do, he has said it is going “better than I dared hope”.

Dixons Carphone expects to deliver a minimum of £80m of synergies by its 2016/17 financial year, which is one year ahead of the original plan.

The merger has paved the way for Carphone Warehouse concessions in Currys and PC World stores, which James says are “trading very well”.

Earlier this month, Dixons Carphone smashed analysts’ forecasts as it revealed a blockbuster fourth quarter. Like-for-like sales surged 13%, leading James to claim profit before tax will be slightly above the top end of previous guidance of £355m to £375m.

James is not afraid to stick his neck out and his strong strategic vision is based upon an ‘internet of things’ proposition, referring to web-connected products from smartphones to fridges. The term may not be much used by the general public, but James is convinced he has seen the future and so has modelled a business around it.

By honing in on the internet of things, James is growing what was once a traditional electronics retail business into a multi-faceted company that also includes a Connected World Services division.

As part of this strategy, he has been consolidating Dixons Carphone’s international business by disposing of retail operations in countries where it does not have a market-leading position.

The retailer has offloaded its Phone House businesses in the Netherlands and Germany, but has retained a presence in both countries through its Connected World division. This includes long-term service contracts such as the provision of insurance.

Oxbridge-educated James is also not afraid to speak out for the industry and has talked publicly on issues including the living wage.

Alongside diversifying the business, James has led the retail industry in showing how it is possible to effectively handle the disruption caused by Black Friday.

Many retailers were wrong-footed by Black Friday in 2014, but not Dixons Carphone. Rival Argos suffered a year-on-year drop in sales over the festive trading period as its business model was put under intense strain by the shopping bonanza.

Canny operator James had the foresight to begin negotiations with manufacturer partners a year before Black Friday to ensure it had sufficient stock levels and maintained margins.

That allowed Dixons Carphone to follow up a record-smashing Black Friday with another record-breaking Boxing Day.

2. Jeff Bezos   

• Founder and chief executive, Amazon    
• 2014 rank: 3

The ever-present shadow that Amazon casts over the retail industry has loomed even larger this year as it dominates innovation in the industry worldwide.

The obsessive Jeff Bezos keeps an eagle eye on all goings on at the ecommerce giant and drives the strategic vision of the company. His emails headed with only a question mark in the subject line are known to strike terror into staff, but there is no doubting his genius.

When Bezos revealed Amazon was exploring drone deliveries, most people thought the idea was a pipe dream, but Amazon has ploughed on with making it a reality. The retailer is testing commercial drone deliveries in Cambridge and lobbying governments hard to relax aviation laws to pave the way for them.  

Now other retailers are obsessively talking about the potential of drones where once they scoffed at the idea.

Amazon Prime has gone from strength to strength across the year and now Asda-owner Walmart is emulating Amazon by offering unlimited free deliveries for an annual membership fee.

In December, Amazon launched a one-hour delivery service in New York City called Amazon Prime Now, which it is in the process of rolling out further.  

Amazon has already drastically reduced delivery times in the UK, offering same-day delivery through a partnership with Connect Group.

Bezos’ company has not taken its foot off the gas when it comes to ordering innovation either.

The retailer has unveiled a home-ordering button called Dash, which enables customers to quickly replenish items such as coffee or razor blades.

The Dash button comes with reusable adhesive so it can be placed near a coffee machine or in the bathroom.

It has been another year of relentless innovation for Amazon in which the visionary Bezos continues to push the boundaries.

3. Sir Charlie Mayfield

• Chairman, John Lewis Partnership
• 2014 rank: 2

When it comes to the Power List’s upper echelons, Sir Charlie Mayfield has become part of the furniture: the John Lewis Partnership chairman has been in the top five since 2011.

It’s not just down to running one of the most successful and lauded businesses in the UK. He has a high profile and few leaders command the respect he does when it comes to commenting on the sector as a whole.

In the past 12 months Mayfield became one of the first business leaders to wade into the thorny issue of the Scottish referendum debate, warning that a ‘yes’ vote would lead to economic uncertainty and rising costs of doing business. And as chairman of the British Retail Consortium he has even more influence as he strives to make the sector’s voice heard within Government. Mayfield started his career in the army where he rose to lieutenant and served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

He clearly draws on his experience in the military, consummately calm and composed in the face of any turbulence and short-term bumps in the road. Profits at the Partnership dipped 9% last year as a result of factors such as a competitive and deflationary market, a higher level of investment and the impact of one-off items such as property impairments.

No one can knock Mayfield’s leadership capabilities – he runs one of the UK’s most unique retailers and represents the interests of the industry more widely.

4. Paul Marchant

• Chief executive, Primark    
• 2014 rank: 5

He may prefer to keep out of the limelight, but that does not stop Primark chief executive Paul Marchant securing one of the top places in this year’s Power List.

Under his stewardship, Primark has expanded internationally into European countries including Spain, the backyard of fashion supremo Zara.

There’s no sign that Primark’s runaway success is going to slow down anytime soon, despite the fact that half-year like-for-likes were flat owing to unseasonable weather and new stores opening in Europe.

Rising one place since last year, Marchant now has his eyes firmly set on the US. Primark has plans to open its first store in Boston towards the end of the year.

Eight store leases have been signed, seven of which have been secured through US giant Sears for Pennsylvania and New York. All eyes will be on how it fares Stateside, where UK retailers have often struggled to succeed in the past.

While international currency could potentially impact profits for the remainder of this financial year, the retailer has sent a clear message to rivals and consumers by vowing not to pass on any extra costs to customers.   

The fact that Primark continues not to need to trade online demonstrates how powerful the retailer is – it does not need to follow the crowd in order to retain customers.

5. Lord Wolfson

• Chief executive, Next
• 2014 rank: 1

When Next chief executive Lord Wolfson speaks, the entire retail industry stops to listen, although he has been quieter of late.

Next’s updates have become red letter days for the industry, especially fashion players, as Wolfson shares his views on the retail landscape and the wider economy.

From whether or not a review of business rates will make any real difference to retailers through to the ‘living wage’, Wolfson’s views are alighted upon by industry peers, who have frequently had cause to envy Next’s consistent performance – this year Next overtook Marks & Spencer in profitability.

Next has been targeted by ‘living wage’ campaigners but Wolfson made headlines, as he has done previously, by choosing to give up a bonus in order to help fund a pay rise for staff.

In a letter to employees he said: “We will again increase standard entry level wages by at least 5% in our annual October wage review.

“In the event there is a shortfall in funding, I have agreed with the board that any bonus I might be due in the year ahead will be used to help fill the gap.

“I hope at least it will convince you of the company’s sincerity and determination to improve your wages and still remain competitive.”

6. Dave Lewis

• Chief executive, Tesco   
• New entry

A new entry in this year’s list, Dave Lewis has shot straight into the top 10 after taking the reins at embattled supermarket giant Tesco last September.

The former Unilever man was parachuted into the UK’s biggest retailer one month earlier than planned, after his predecessor Philip Clarke issued a series of profit warnings.

Lewis was immediately forced to display his mettle when it was discovered the grocer had overstated profits by £263m, prompting probes by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Serious Fraud Office and the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Amid the scandal, Lewis has begun to implement his strategy and made some big decisions.

In January he revealed plans to close Tesco’s Cheshunt headquarters and 43 unprofitable stores, shelving 49 planned openings. Lewis has streamlined head office operations and invested in 4,652 net additional store staff as he places improving UK competitiveness at the heart of his turnaround plan.

He has also devoted his attention to strengthening the balance sheet. An ongoing review of non-core assets has led to Tesco Broadband and Blinkbox being sold to TalkTalk, and a sale of data business Dunnhumby may follow.

Lewis has a long way to go to turn Tesco into the ‘customers’ champion’, but despite unveiling the retailer’s biggest ever full-year loss of £6.38bn, improving sales in its first quarter suggest he has got off to a good start.

Lewis has impressed with coolness under fire and quiet determination to rebuild Tesco’s strength.

7. Andy Street

• Managing director, John Lewis
• 2014 rank: 11

It has been a year of ups and downs for Andy Street. The John Lewis boss was embroiled in controversy after jokey remarks about France prompted a media storm.

However, Street is nothing if not resilient and he has moved on, although he has been a little quieter since. There was a more modest approach to the retailer’s launch of its Christmas ad campaign after Street took on board comments from some that John Lewis was getting a bit too big for its boots. There has been nothing modest about his development plans, though.

John Lewis is still seen as the benchmark for omnichannel leadership, and in the past 12 months it has opened its first ‘click-and-commute’ shop at London’s St Pancras station and its first airport store in Heathrow’s Terminal 2.

The retailer’s JLab tech competition, where the winner received £100,000 investment, was a success. It is implementing technology from its winning partner that will help improve its click-and-collect pick-up service in store.

Operating profits rose 10.8% to £250.5m in the 53 weeks ended January 31.

Looking ahead, plans include a full-line department store in Street’s home town of Birmingham in September and a fulfilment centre in Milton Keynes next year.

John Lewis is also poised to expand its international footprint into the Philippines via a department store tie-up. Street may have had a sometimes challenging year but no one can doubt his leadership of one of the most exciting retailers in the UK.

8. Andy Clarke

• Chief executive, Asda
• 2014 rank: 10

In another turbulent year for the big four grocers, Andy Clarke was the first to recognise the problems that 2014/15 would bring and put Asda’s house in order promptly and efficiently.

Last summer, the food and general merchandise giant radically restructured its in-store management teams, resulting in 1,360 redundancies and 5,670 new roles. Its big four rivals were slower off the mark, but have all followed Clarke’s lead.

As a hotly contested price war continued to rumble throughout the year, Clarke stuck impressively to Asda’s guns by offering everyday low prices and shunning the promotional vouchering and multibuy offers employed by his supermarket rivals.

As the sales densities of Asda’s big four rivals dropped, Clarke’s stance paid off when Retail Week data revealed in April that the grocer was the best performer in the market on that front, raking in £1,150 per sq ft of store space in 2014/15 – just £50 less than it was five years ago.

In the wider industry, Clarke has been a consistent voice for change when it comes to business rates and Sunday trading hours.

9. Mike Ashley

• Founder and executive deputy chairman, Sports Direct    
• 2014 rank: 13

Mike Ashley has had a busy year – from buying and selling a stake in Debenhams and launching discount store Mega Value, to putting USC into administration, he has kept the City on its toes.

And while Ashley’s four-position climb to nine is warranted, he is a good example that influence and power does not always have a positive effect on the industry’s image.

Take the way he dealt with the administration of USC – the 200 former warehouse staff claim they were only given 15 minutes’ notice before losing their jobs when the business went into administration in January. That led to an uproar that brought legal action, hearings in Parliament and the Institute of Directors labelling the Sports Direct board “dysfunctional”.

And then there is Sports Direct’s use of zero-hour contracts. The canny businessman’s influence even had an effect on the general election, when the controversial contracts were brandished as a political weapon in party manifestos.

The zero-hour contracts debate also featured in a Dispatches programme on Channel 4, when reporters went undercover to investigate the retailer’s allegedly poor treatment of employees.

Ashley may be personally media shy, but his controversial style affects public perception of the retail industry.

10. Matthew Barnes

• Chief executive, UK and Ireland, Aldi
• 2014 rank: 7

Although the exponential growth that Aldi enjoyed in 2013 has started to plateau, according to the latest Kantar data, it has been yet another big year for the German discounter, spearheaded by its UK boss Matthew Barnes.

He took sole charge of the UK business in April this year after his former co-director Roman Heini returned to Germany to become chairman of Aldi Sud’s advisory board. Barnes has continued to drive the business forward and cause further headaches for the big four.

He drew the battle lines in February, unveiling plans to open 70 new stores in 2015 and hire 5,000 new staff at a time when counterparts were closing shops.

In April, Aldi overtook Waitrose to become the sixth biggest grocer by market share. And later that month Aldi was named the seventh fastest-growing retailer in the UK after its latest accounts showed sales soared 35% to £5.2bn.

Under Barnes, Aldi has continued to lead the way in the relentless supermarket price war, forcing Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s margins down and prompting the latter’s finance chief, John Rogers, to predict that 3% trading margins will become the new norm in grocery.

With ambitious plans to reach 1,000 stores in the UK by 2022, there is more to come yet from Aldi and Barnes.

11. Mark Price

• Managing director, Waitrose   
• 2014 rank: 12

In a turbulent year for food retailers, Mark Price has expertly steered the Waitrose ship through some stormy seas to maintain its position among the industry’s leading players.

Having warned that first-half profits would be impacted by unprecedented investment in stores, services and online, Waitrose went on to notch up its largest ever share of the market – 5.2% – by October.

When Price talks, people listen, so it was no surprise that his prophecy last November that grocers would have to start closing began to ring true this year. Price’s focus at Waitrose remained on growth, however, pledging to create 2,000 jobs as part of an ambitious store expansion and opening plan.  

By February, Price’s strategy meant Waitrose won back its crown as the UK’s favourite supermarket in a poll by Which?. It was also named one of the fastest-growing retailers in the UK earlier this year, according to research by OC&C Strategy Consultants.

Despite recording a 24.4% fall in operating profits for the full year, Waitrose’s sales rose 4.6% during the 52-week period. But Price, who admitted that 2014 was “a year of drama”, could be about to enter his most testing period as Waitrose boss after trading deteriorated at the start of the current financial year. There’s no doubt that the grocer has the right man at the helm to tackle the challenges that lie in wait.

12. Sir Philip Green

• Chief executive, Arcadia Group
• 2014 ranking: 6

The energetic tycoon Sir Philip Green had an unusually quiet year – but more recently he was making the accustomed headlines again as he sold his BHS chain.

Retailers were fascinated about what the fate of BHS would be for three months while the Arcadia boss scouted out potential buyers.

In March, the 171 stores were sold to little-known investment vehicle Retail Acquisitions for £1. Green described it as a “happy-sad day”, but believed the new owner could devote all its energy to the retailer, which has struggled in recent years.

The deal allows billionaire Green to focus his energies on his Arcadia business, notably flagship fashion retailer Topshop.

He opened a 40,000 sq ft Topshop flagship in New York. It is the second largest Topshop store in Green’s empire, cementing the retailer’s success Stateside.

Green continued his efforts to provide training and education for young people keen on a fashion career with his energetic championing of the Fashion Retail Academy, the shopkeeping school that this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The academy, Green’s brainchild, is backed by some of the biggest companies in retail, the bosses of which typically attend graduation ceremonies and share their expertise with students.

13. Mike Coupe

• Chief executive, Sainsbury’s
• 2014 rank: 14

Mike Coupe has been on the proverbial rollercoaster ride since succeeding Justin King as chief executive of Sainsbury’s last June.

The grocer’s former commercial director took the reins at a turbulent time, but has led from the front with conviction and calm.

That calm was tested when he became embroiled in a bizarre Egyptian legal case but, after finally being acquitted of embezzlement charges in June, it continues to be business as usual for the physics graduate – and it has had to be in the current market.

With the resurgent discounters muscling in on UK grocery, Coupe orchestrated Sainsbury’s tie-up with Scandinavian discounter Netto in a bid to take a share of the value market. But overall trading has remained tough, with the grocer’s full-year losses for 2014/15 reaching £72m and first quarter like-for-likes sliding 2.1%.

Despite that, Coupe remains an advocate about the future of larger supermarkets and has helped build what is regarded by many as the best convenience store business in UK grocery.

Coupe is renowned for his understanding of the role technology can play in retail and he has proven that in his first year in charge. He has given the green light to a new digital lab, brought

Argos digital shops into Sainsbury’s larger stores and is trialling a new scan-and-go smartphone shopping app.

Under King the plan was to “make Sainsbury’s great again”. On the evidence so far, Coupe is determined to keep it that way. 

14. Richard Pennycook

• Chief executive, The Co-operative
• 2014 rank: 19

This time last year, Richard Pennycook had just been thrust into the Co-op hot seat on a temporary basis following the sudden departure of Euan Sutherland. At that point, not even Pennycook himself could have imagined what the next 12 months would have in store for him.

Pennycook stepped into the breach and made the case for change at the mutual, playing a pivotal role in convincing Co-op traditionalists of the urgent need to reform and modernise governance. His impact was felt as early as the Co-op’s half-year results, as the disposal of the farms and pharmacies businesses raised £910m.

After originally taking charge on an interim basis at the Co-op at such a difficult time, Pennycook made a U-turn in September when he signed up for the role full time.

By the time of its full-year results in April, Pennycook was confident that the Co-op had “turned the corner”. It recorded a net profit of £216m – a transformation from the £2.3bn loss it reported just one year previously.

But Pennycook’s job is far from done yet. Having completed the “rescue” phase of his strategy, the “rebuild plan” is now under way as he targets 100 new convenience stores by the end of this year to return the Co-op to “the heart of communities” across the UK.

15. Tim Steiner

• Co-founder and chief executive, Ocado
• 2014 rank: 15

A landmark year for Ocado helps Tim Steiner maintain his place at number 15 in this year’s Power List.

Fifteen is the magic number as far as Steiner is concerned – Ocado reported a full-year pre-tax profit in February, its first in its 15-year history. Gross retail sales surged 15.3% for the year ended November 30, as the online grocer swung from a £12.5m loss the previous year into a £7.2m profit.

Despite Ocado’s move into the black, steely Steiner continues to have his doubters, but that is a group he is confident of proving wrong.

His unyielding drive to invest in technology rather than focus on profits is beginning to pay dividends.

Ocado’s online deal with Morrisons delivered a solid first full year, and Steiner has said he is “confident” of securing a similar deal with an international retailer later this year as he bids to transform the etailer into “the biggest retail platform in the world”.

Ocado’s increasing customer base has allowed it to expand operations in the UK, with a fourth customer fulfilment centre planned to open in southeast London in 2017.

With a new Apple Watch app launched and patents pending on new pick-and-pack robots, Steiner’s focus on technology to further grow the business shows no signs of diminishing.

16. Marc Bolland

• Chief executive, Marks & Spencer   
• 2014 rank: 17

Marc Bolland’s step by step journey towards restoring Marks & Spencer’s fortunes continued over the year, and he can look back with some satisfaction that progress is being made.

The pressure has eased on Bolland, whose future leading the business has sometimes been called into question.

For much of the year a disappointing performance from M&S’s relaunched website gave Bolland a headache.

However, it eventually started delivering the goods and, crucially, M&S was able at last to report some growth at its core apparel division as its dresses won several column inches of approving coverage in the fashion press.

Bolland has continued to be a prominent business voice on issues such as climate change, on which he spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year.

M&S still has a distance to go as it refashions itself as an international, multichannel retailer. But Bolland seems confident that he’s put some hard miles behind him and is relishing his role.

He dismissed suggestions that he might stand down now that things are looking better and the retailer posted its first profits rise in four years.

Comparing where M&S is now with where it has come from, he said: “It was tough and I said at the time I was enjoying it, and I’m still enjoying it now. I’m enjoying the execution phase.”

17. Ronny Gottschlich

• Managing director, Lidl
• 2014 rank: 18

The affable German boss of discounter Lidl has had another good year giving the big four grocers a run for their money.

The German discounter’s market share rose from 3.5% to 3.8% this year. Along with Aldi, Lidl has sparked rethinking at the established British grocery giants as its low-priced, good-quality products prove a smash hit with UK consumers.

While Lidl’s growth has been eclipsed by that of its arch rival Aldi in the UK, no one can dispute what a profound effect Gottschlich’s business has had on the grocery market.

As well as sales, Gottschlich, who grew up in east Germany, has also wiped the smile off the faces of some of the industry’s top chief executives through Lidl’s tongue-in-cheek snipes at rivals.

The public got a glimpse of Lidl’s cheeky sense of humour when it took out newspaper ads to poke fun at Morrisons’ complicated loyalty scheme; and a Sainsbury’s communications disaster when it mistakenly put up posters in shop windows encouraging staff to get 50p extra out of each customer.  

Gottschlich’s own profile is also rising. The retail chief, who has been at the helm since 2010, has led a few notable media events in the past 12 months, including unveiling Lidl’s new £20m brand campaign and inviting Chancellor George Osborne to its Chessington store to promote the retailer’s expansion and job-hiring plans.

18. Nick Robertson

• Founder and chief executive, Asos
• 2014 rank: 9

It has been another turbulent year for the fashion etailer, which explains boss Nick Robertson’s decline by nine places in this year’s Power List. Recently sales have been good for Asos, but its investments have hit profits.

Its full-year profits fell 14% to £46.9m, partly because of investments in its warehouse and the launch of a £8.6m Chinese website. Asos was also affected by a fire at its Barnsley distribution centre, which was clearly out of Robertson’s hands.

The etailer also spent the past year busying itself to launch zonal pricing in order to compete more effectively internationally. Over Christmas that led to a 5% increase in international revenue as the new pricing technology kicked in.

Robertson is a force to be reckoned with in the industry, especially when it comes to confidence in technology. The retailer is still committed to investing £75m in technology by the end of the next financial year and Asos was one of the first businesses to launch an app for the Apple Watch.

Earlier this year Robertson sold shares in the business worth £20m, leaving him with an 8.4% stake in the fashion etailer.

19. Angela Ahrendts

• Senior vice-president of retail and online sales, Apple
• Re-entry

Apple’s polished approach to store design and its ability to create desire around products has permeated retail, and UK retailers ranging from Specsavers to Kingfisher have admitted to copying its philosophy.  

Former Burberry boss Angela Ahrendts dropped out of the Power List last year after leaving the luxury fashion retailer.

She has stepped into the position at Apple left vacant by former Dixons boss John Browett and immediately shaken up Apple’s retail approach.

With the launch of the Apple Watch she has overhauled the company’s tried-and-tested practice of encouraging shoppers to camp outside Apple stores for days to get their hands on new releases.

Ahrendts insisted on customers booking appointments to try on the product, forced them to order it online and did not allow them to pick it up in store.

This bold move has created the air of luxury and exclusivity around the smartwatch that Apple was seeking.

All eyes will now be on Ahrendts as retailers continue to seek inspiration when it comes to creating retail theatre. How Ahrendts influences the implementation of Apple Pay, the firm’s contactless payment technology, will also prove fascinating.

Last year Ahrendts was the highest-paid woman executive in America, earning $82.6m (£53.6m).

20. Stefano Pessina  

• Executive vice-chairman and acting chief executive of Walgreens Boots Alliance   
• 2014 rank: 25

The Italian-born multi-billionaire has this year overseen the full merger of Alliance Boots and Walgreens, with the deal finally completed in December.

As the acting chief executive of the merged entity, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Pessina occupies a powerful position in the health and beauty sector on both sides of the Atlantic. Boots continues to enjoy a dominant position on the UK high street, where it employs about 60,000 staff, while Walgreens has more than 8,000 stores covering all 50 US states.

His prominence in the UK business world was illustrated in January when a remark branding the prospect of a Labour government as a “catastrophe” bought Pessina unwelcome headlines. The company’s tax affairs have also come under scrutiny.

Looking ahead, in the US the focus is on restructuring, with plans to close about 200 stores as part of cost-saving measures. Meanwhile, the group is stepping up the export of its Boots products to Walgreens, including its popular No.7 range.

Pessina will also be eyeing further global growth, particularly in China where the company already owns a number of wholesale businesses.

21. Alex Baldock

• Group chief executive, Shop Direct
• 2014 rank: 41

Baldock has shot up the Power List, thanks to his strategy which has led to an increase in profits and even a new selling platform, Very Exclusive – Very.co.uk’s separate website for luxury shopping.

Baldock has said he wants to democratise the luxury market through Very Exclusive and, by offering customers credit on brands such as Vivienne Westwood, he seems to be doing just that.

Always ahead of the curve when it comes to customer data, Baldock is still continuing his investment in technology, including algorithms that personalise webpages for customers, and in a bold move has axed the Littlewoods catalogue.

His IT vision also includes the automation of how products are added to the website.

22. Chris North

• UK managing director, Amazon
• 2014 rank: 23

With Amazon as almighty and robust as ever, UK managing director Chris North continues his presence in the upper half of the Power List.

Under North, the UK branch of the global player flies the flag for innovation, especially when it comes to convenience.

One initiative it launched this year was enabling customers to order products up to 11.45am and then collect from one of Connect Group’s newsagent or convenience store partners by 4pm that day.

After being heavily criticised for its controversial tax arrangements, the retailer changed the way it records sales in May, meaning it will pay corporation tax on UK retail sales. Previously it had registered all of its revenues to Luxembourg.

In unclear circumstances, North resigned from the board of Amazon UK on May 1.

23. Simon Arora

• Chief executive, B&M  
• 2014 rank: 26

Simon Arora has climbed three places up our rankings since last year, as value retailer B&M continues to make hay among cost-conscious consumers.

Now publicly listed and on the FTSE 250, the group is targeting 850 stores in the UK. It is on the way to meeting that target having opened its 400th store last year. In its last full-year, B&M revealed an impressive 4.4% rise in UK like-for-likes.

As analyst Nick Bubb says: “There is lot to like about B&M, with years of profitable growth clearly visible on the horizon.”  

With success outside of its Northwest heartland and international expansion also being eyed, Arora, along with the help of his brothers and the backing of Sir Terry Leahy as chairman, is well placed to emerge as one of retail’s long-standing success stories.

24. John Roberts

• Founder and chief executive, AO.com
• 2014 rank: 30

John Roberts shot into the Power List last year after floating AO.com. His influence in retail has only increased since then despite the company’s value dipping significantly since its £1.2bn flotation.

Roberts is not afraid to speak his mind and, like rival Dixons Carphone boss Sebastian James, has a canny way with words. In one memorable quote, he said Black Friday had the “Eric Morecambe effect – playing all the right notes just not necessarily in the right order”.

Roberts also publicly stated what many were afraid to say, that Black Friday was a surprise to everyone and those who said it went perfectly were “either lying or had a crap Christmas”.

25. Robin Terrell

• Chief customer officer, Tesco
• 2014 rank: 27

After the accountancy scandal last year, there was a lot of sea change at Tesco and boss Dave Lewis restructured his senior team.

Multichannel director Robin Terrell took charge of the UK business on an interim basis after Chris Bush was suspended. Following Matt Davies’ appointment to head up Tesco UK on a permanent basis, Terrell took on the role of chief customer officer.

Terrell is one of the sector’s leading multichannel retailers and a key asset for the grocer. Terrell continues to oversee multichannel and, with the departure of chief information officer Mike McNamara, the incoming chief technology officer will report to Terrell.

26. John Walden  

• Chief executive, Home Retail Group  
• 2014 rank: 22

John Walden has dropped a handful of places after some tough times of late for Argos and Homebase.

Like-for-likes at Argos were flat at Christmas after Black Friday hit its sales patterns. Prior to that Walden had revealed he would be closing a quarter of Homebase stores. Argos’ sales are still in decline after Christmas. Struggles in the electricals market led to a 3.9% fall in like-for-likes during the first quarter.

However, Walden is still a big hitter when it comes to the innovations being pioneered by Home Retail.

The Argos tie-up with eBay is said to have drawn the attention of Amazon as it mulls physical stores, while the retailer is rolling out some trailblazing upgrades to its fulfilment proposition, such as a delivery network that will enable it to deliver direct to customers’ homes and offices from larger stores.

27. Matt Davies

• UK chief executive, Tesco
• 2014 rank: 34

Matt Davies has climbed seven places in the rankings this year after taking on one of the toughest jobs in retail – Tesco UK chief executive.

Not only is the grocery giant fighting investigations left right and centre, it is also in the midst of a restructure and turnaround plan to try to build trading momentum after the annus horribilis that was last year.  Tesco group chief executive Dave Lewis clearly thinks the former Halfords and Pets at Home chief is the right man for the job.

Expect to see a particular focus on store standards, service and training. If anyone can do it, Davies can.

28. Peter Cowgill

• Executive chairman, JD Sports Fashion                            
• 2014 rank: 32

Peter Cowgill may avoid the limelight but his business does the talking for him. In its last full year, JD Sports Fashion delivered a 22% jump in profits, while like-for-likes climbed 12%. The group’s sport fashion division, under its JD fascia, drives the business.

By contrast the firm’s outdoor arm, incorporating Blacks and Millets, remains loss-making. Cowgill has shown he is not afraid to offload struggling divisions, having sold the firm’s flailing youth fashion business Bank last November.

Further afield, as the group enjoys success in Europe with JD, Cowgill has not ruled out expanding beyond the continent.

29. Simon Roberts

• President of Boots and executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance  
• 2014 rank: 29

Simon Roberts was a new entry to the Power List last year, along with Ken Murphy, having succeeded Boots’ UK chief executive of health and beauty, Alex Gourlay, who left to take a role at Walgreens ahead of the groups’ merger.

Murphy has moved on to take up the role of president of global brands at the parent company. Roberts, who has remained to head up Boots in the UK as its president, will have pleased his new bosses with the UK business’s improved performance this year.

This month Boots unveiled plans to cut 700 back office roles as part of a major restructure to make its business “fit for the future”.

30. David Potts

• Chief executive, Morrisons  
• New entry

In a long career at Tesco, David Potts started as a shelf-stacker before ultimately heading its Asian arm. He retired from the grocer in 2011 to fulfil personal ambitions.

But his career was back in focus at the start of the year, when he pipped several other heavyweights to take the hot seat at Morrisons, replacing Dalton Philips.

Even in the short spell so far, he’s made tough decisions as he looks to turn around the embattled retailer.

In March he cut five senior managers from the ranks and in April he culled 720 roles at head office.

31. Theo Paphitis

• Chairman and owner, Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue  
• 2014 rank: 24

He describes himself as “shopkeeper” on his Twitter profile, but Theo Paphitis is much more than that. In fact, he’s one of the most famous businessmen in the UK, with a retail empire that spans Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue.

The former Dragons’ Den judge is also famed for running a #SBS (Small Business Sundays) competition on Twitter supporting entrepreneurial businesses.

In the past year, his lingerie retailer Boux Avenue has continued to go from strength to strength, with the company opening its first airport shop in Manchester in August, while Robert Dyas invested in its first ever TV ad campaign in the run-up to last Christmas.

32. Jim McCarthy

• Chief executive, Poundland
• 2014 rank: 35

The straight-talking Poundland boss has achieved another good year, with his 600-store value retail business clocking up annual sales of more than £1bn for the first time.

Having floated on the London Stock Exchange last year, Jim McCarthy flexed his group’s new-found muscles by making a bid for smaller rival 99p Stores. The deal has hit a wall, as the competition authorities investigate, but is likely to complete, in some form, by the end of the year.

McCarthy will be extra keen on the deal completing now that Poundworld has been acquired by private equity firm TPG. The battle to attract Britain’s penny-pinching punters is set to get fiercer. But McCarthy will no doubt relish the challenge.

33. Andy Higginson

• Chairman, Morrisons
• 2014 rank: 98

The former Tesco executive has shot up the rankings after playing a critical role in the attempt to turn around Morrisons.

He took on the tough job of chairman at the struggling grocer last year – stepping down as Poundland chairman – after a sustained period of declining sales and profits as the growth of Aldi and Lidl took their toll.

Within months the no-nonsense northerner had sacked chief executive Dalton Philips and brought in former Tesco colleague David Potts to restore momentum.

As if he didn’t have enough on his plate already, Higginson is also chairman of fashion group N Brown.

34. Malcolm Walker

• Chief executive, Iceland
• 2014 rank: 20

The colourful Iceland founder has slipped down the rankings this year as the frozen food specialist has had a bit of a tricky 12 months, and Walker has kept a comparatively low profile.

Growth has stalled at the value grocer, despite, or perhaps because of, the rise of fellow discounters Aldi and Lidl. Its market share was flat on last year at 2.1% in the 12 weeks to April 26, according to Kantar figures.

Meanwhile, Iceland reported adjusted EBITDA fell 25.7% to £150.2m for the year ended March 27, as like-for-likes during the period declined 4.4%.

A £950m debt refinancing deal in August meant it could fund its expansion programme, which included 46 new high street stores.

35. Angela Spindler

• Chief executive, N Brown
• 2014 rank: 33

It has been a tricky year for N Brown boss Angela Spindler, who has had to ride the wave of two profit warnings in six months.

The retailer is still reporting profit losses owing to its modern-isation programme, but she said the “hard graft” has now been done and the company is starting to see “green shoots” of recovery as it nears the halfway point of its three-year turnaround strategy.

Spindler’s movement two places down the Power List has more to do with new entrants than her abilities to turn around the retailer, and she remains confident in the business outlook, despite flat sales.

36. Anders Kristiansen

• Chief executive, New Look
• 2014 rank: 36

Anders Kristiansen’s unchanged position in the Power List can be put down to more entrants, rather than a decrease in influence over the industry.

Over the past year the New Look chief executive ramped up his efforts to prepare the fashion retailer for an IPO or sale, finally securing a new owner in exchange for £780m last month.

South African investment group Brait took control of the retailer in June and plans to provide stability for New Look over the next five years.

New Look reported strong profits in its most recent financial results, despite a fall in sales.

Kristiansen had to steer the retailer through the unseasonably warm autumn, which the entire fashion sector struggled with in 2014.

37. Sir Charles Dunstone

• Founder, Carphone Warehouse, and chairman, Dixons Carphone
• 2014 rank: 38

What a year it’s been for Sir Charles Dunstone. The man who co-founded Carphone Warehouse from his flat in Marylebone in 1989 saw his company merge with Dixons last year, in a deal worth £3.6bn.

The merger was deemed a success, with the newly formed company – Dixons Carphone – reporting a 30% rise in profit before tax to £78m in the 31 weeks to November 1. Like-for-likes rose 13% in the fourth quarter.

But there’s no sitting back for the new chairman of Dixons Carphone – the retailer has made a raft of changes since the deal such as offloading its Dutch business, the Phone House Netherlands, and launching its own mobile network.

38. Véronique Laury

• Chief executive, Kingfisher
• New entry

Véronique Laury is a new entry after taking on the Kingfisher helm from Sir Ian Cheshire.

Increasing sales at the B&Q owner will prove challenging against a backdrop of the public falling out of love with DIY.

She has wasted no time making her mark on Kingfisher and has already revealed she will be closing 60 B&Q stores that are not generating enough sales per square foot.

Laury has set the bar high for herself by saying she wants to create a unique and compelling proposition for Kingfisher in the DIY sector, much like Apple, Primark and Zara have done in their respective sectors.

39. Nick Wood

• Chief executive, Pets at Home
• 2014 rank: 40

It’s been more than a year now since Pets at Home became a public company in March 2014, and chief executive Nick Wood will no doubt have a wag in his tail.

Sales at the retailer continue to increase (9.6% to £729.1m in its full year to March 26), helped by the leadership of the passionate golfer who used to be the boss of American Golf.

Its VIP Club loyalty scheme keeps on winning over customers, bringing its total membership to more than 3.2 million.

New openings over the past year have also helped the retailer to become the UK’s largest vet practice.

40. Michael Sharp

• Chief executive, Debenhams
• 2014 rank: 39

Michael Sharp has had a better year, as his management enabled Debenhams to spin a 4.3% rise in profits for its half year to February, finally overcoming its troubled promotional strategy.

His movement down one place is less to do with his performance, and more to do with new entrants in this year’s ever-changing Power List.

That said, while Debenhams is now out of the habit of running promotions seemingly every couple of weeks, Sharp still has a big task on his hands to continue the progress he has made so far at the department store business.

41. Katie Bickerstaffe

• Chief executive, Dixons Carphone UK & Ireland 
• 2014 rank: 42

Katie Bickerstaffe has had a relatively low-profile year, but has taken on a more senior position after the merger of the Dixons Carphone business.

Bickerstaffe is now chief  executive of the UK & Ireland business and in this role still carries out her responsibilities from her previous job as boss of Dixons Retail UK and Ireland. On the day of the merger she appeared via video link at the press event to help show off the company’s new store-within-a-store concept.

Her marketing background means she is determined to ensure that the customer is at the heart  of the Dixons Carphone business.

42. Black Friday  

• New entry

While Black Friday crossed the Atlantic from the US a couple of years ago, it was not until November 2014 that it left an undying mark on British retail as customers stormed stores to grab the best bargains, making it a new entry.

Retailers including John Lewis fared well – it said it delivered “an operation that ran like clockwork” – but the phenomenon showed many up. Some were unprepared and their supply chains, IT systems and delivery services took a hit.

Retailers now understand Black Friday is here to stay and began preparing for the pre-Christmas rush as early as January so as not to deliver their products alongside bad customer experience in 2015.

43. John Allan

• Chairman, Tesco
• New entry

After a high-profile search, John Allan was the man Tesco’s board unanimously chose to become its new chairman in February following Sir Richard Broadbent’s decision to step down from arguably one of the toughest jobs in retail.

Paid a fee of £650,000 per year, Allan was seen as bringing bags of much-needed experience to Tesco, which had been criticised for having a lack of retail veterans on its board.

Prior to the new role at Tesco, the retail stalwart was non-executive director of Royal Mail and chairman of Dixons Carphone. After overseeing a turnaround in Dixons’ fortunes, Tesco will hope he is able to sprinkle the same magic at the embattled grocer.

44. David Cameron

• Prime minister
• Re-entry

As David Cameron now enjoys a (slim) majority in his second term, the Conservatives are in a position to drive through significant changes.

The majority of retailers have welcomed a Conservative government, but they will not hold back on lobbying for changes on business rates.

The issue of rebalancing rates remains a key sticking point for the sector.

Meanwhile, as fashion retailer Next has already experienced, the unions are stepping up their agitating over shop workers’ rights and it will be interesting to see how both the companies and Cameron respond to these calls.

45. Carlos Duarte

• Country manager, UK and Ireland, H&M
• 2014 rank: 45

It’s been another good year for H&M as it holds its own as one of the biggest fast-fashion retailers on the high street.

The man behind H&M’s UK and Ireland operations is Carlos Duarte. In the UK, the Stockholm-based retailer continues to pull in the customers with strong partnerships such as David Beckham and his Bodywear collection, and a collaboration with designer Alexander Wang, which hit the shops last year.

This year H&M will launch a new concept, H&M Beauty, across a number of its stores. It will also open its first store in New Delhi this autumn.

46. Ray Kelvin

• Founder and chief executive, Ted Baker
• 2014 rank: 56

Another spectacular year for Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin, who has jumped up the Power List.

The success of Ted Baker was duly rewarded earlier this year when the business scooped Oracle Retailer of the Year at the Oracle Retail Week Awards. Whether it’s introducing beacon technology to its stores, finding new partners overseas or launching new categories, Kelvin ensures the quirky fashion retailer stands apart from its competitors, and delivers strong sales and profits to boot.

This spring, Ted Baker opened Ted Baker and Moore – a one-off store showcasing all the extensions of the brand such as luggage, shoes and watches.

47. Jacqueline Gold

• Chief executive, Ann Summers  
• 2014 rank: 62

At the helm of Ann Summers, Jacqueline Gold has managed to bring the business back into the black with a projected £4.5m to £5m swing in profits for its financial year ending in June. The fourth highest riser in this year’s Power List, she is a high profile campaigner in the industry on business rates reform – taking it all the way to 10 Downing Street for a meeting with David Cameron.

48. Ian Grabiner

• Chief executive, Arcadia Group
• 2014 rank: 44

As boss of Arcadia Group, Ian Grabiner not only presides over major high street retailers such as Topshop and Topman, but he’s also Sir Philip Green’s right-hand man. After Arcadia washed its hands of loss-making BHS earlier this year, Grabiner’s focus will now be on investment. The group plans to invest in new systems to support international and multichannel development.

49. Mike Shearwood

• Chief executive, Karen Millen  
• 2014 rank: 43

It has been a quiet year for Mike Shearwood, which explains his drop to number 49 in the Power List.

The Karen Millen boss has spent his time continuing to reinvent the brand as “affordable luxury” fashion. And its last full-year pre-tax profits climbed from £2.7m to £6.1m as it continued to make significant investments in the business.

50. John Dixon

• Executive director, general merchandise, Marks & Spencer
• 2014 rank: 52

In his previous role he oversaw a recovery in M&S’s food division, and now John Dixon has turned his attention to the troubled general merchandise category. The retailer posted its first annual profit rise in four years last month, and in the fourth quarter to March 28 general merchandise sales returned to growth after 14 consecutive quarters of decline.

51. Michael Ward

• Managing director, Harrods
• 2014 rank: 50

Under managing director Michael Ward, Harrods has continued to flourish and make moves to attract those well-heeled shoppers, including – rather aptly – opening Shoe Heaven, a stylish 4,200 sq ft footwear department filled with the crème de la crème of footwear.

Harrods reported a “record year” in October with operating profit rising 13% to £122.9m.

52. Sir Stuart Rose

• Chairman, Ocado and Fat Face
• 2014 rank: 48

As chairman of Ocado, former Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose remains at the heart of retail and, as so often in the past, has been among the foremost business voices on policy issues likely to impact retail. He spoke out in support of the union during the Scottish independence debate and in support of the Conservatives during the general election.

53. Paul McGowan

• Chief executive, Hilco, and chairman, HMV  
• 2014 rank: 54

Paul McGowan, chief executive of HMV owner Hilco, has catapulted the music retailer back to the top of the charts, with the company reclaiming its top position as the UK’s biggest seller of physical music last year. The retailer sold one in three of all CDs and DVDs in the UK, overtaking Amazon, and fuelling a rise in full-year sales.

54. Ian Filby

• Chief executive, DFS
• 2014 rank: 59

Ian Filby helped steer DFS to become a public company in March, when the retailer moved on to the stock exchange in a bid to raise £98m to reduce debt and provide access to a lower cost of financing. DFS has enjoyed a resurgence of late, prompting the furniture retailer to open its first international store in Cruquius in the Netherlands.

55. Laura Wade-Gery

• Executive director of multichannel, Marks & Spencer
• 2014 rank: 55

She’s been likened to both Boadicea and Joyce Grenfell, but it’s her multichannel skills that Laura Wade-Gery’s more known for in the retail world. However, Marks & Spencer’s long-awaited platform relaunch last year caused misery for customers and shareholders alike, leading to a knock in sales that’s only just starting to recover. 

56. Steve Rowe

• Executive director of food, Marks & Spencer
• 2014 rank: 58

Steve Rowe is a Marks & Spencer lifer, clocking up more than 25 years at the high street stalwart. He’s often cited as a potential successor to Marc Bolland, which is no surprise given that M&S’s food business keeps going from strength to strength with robust sales growth despite a competitive grocery market.

57. Gillian Drakeford

• UK country manager, Ikea
• 2014 rank: 57

Two years after swapping her flat-pack furniture in China for the UK and Ireland country manager job, Gillian Drakeford continues to ensure the Scandinavian retailer remains a significant player in the British home-furnishings scene. The retailer is innovative as ever; in April it launched a wireless charging range in the UK.

58. Iñigo de Llano

• UK managing director, Inditex
• New entry

Iñigo de Llano swapped Down Under (he was managing director of Inditex Australia) for a colder and wetter climate earlier this year when he was appointed UK and Ireland managing director of Spanish fashion giant Inditex. The owner of Zara is one of the biggest clothing groups in the UK and is praised for its fast fashion model.

59. Andrew Harrison

• Deputy group chief executive, Dixons Carphone
• 2014 rank: 71

Over the past year, Andrew Harrison has helped preside over one of the biggest mergers in UK retail history as Dixons Retail joined forces with Carphone Warehouse to become Dixons Carphone. Following the £4bn merger, the companies turned some branches into joint stores and have laid down plans to launch a mobile network.

60. Steve Clarke

• Chief executive, WHSmith
• 2014 rank: 60

While WHSmith remains just as aloof as ever under Steve Clarke, the retailer’s profits continue to climb. The chain almost famously now continues to report a decline in high street sales, but Clarke has tested new ground in the past year with the trial of 20 Cardmarket stores, which offer a “value-based proposition”.

61. Nigel Oddy

• Chief executive, House of Fraser  
• New entry

As chief operating officer at House of Fraser, Nigel Oddy wasn’t a familiar name to many. But now he has been propelled into the front seat as chief executive and all eyes are on him as he steers the group under its new owner, Chinese conglomerate Sanpower. House of Fraser plans to launch in China and invest £150m in its UK operation.

62. Will Adderley

• Deputy chairman, Dunelm  
• New entry

Will Adderley returned to the spotlight as chief executive of Dunelm last September. He has now returned to his role of deputy chairman as John Browett was appointed chief executive, nonetheless Adderley’s influence at the retailer can’t be overstated. It was not his first stint as boss of the homewares retailer, which was founded by his parents. While at the helm over the last nine months, Adderley carved out plans to expand Dunelm’s store portfolio, while the retailer’s sales and pre-tax profits have both grown.

63. Andrew Moore

• Chief merchandising officer, Asda and George
• 2014 rank: 65

At the start of the year, Asda streamlined its management team and chief merchandising officer Andrew Moore took on responsibility for the retailer’s food division. Having built a strong reputation as a canny operator in driving George forward, the challenge of doing the same with Asda’s food offer is one Moore will relish.

64. Paul Kelly

• Group managing director, Selfridges
• 2014 rank: 64

With its constant drive for innovation – and sticking to founder Harry Selfridges’ revolutionary vision – Selfridges continues to surprise and delight under managing director Paul Kelly. In the past year the retailer has pulled in customers with a cinema and an ice rink, and posted record profits to the tune of £150m for the year ended December 2013.

65. Natalie Massenet

• Founder and executive chairman, Net-a-Porter
• New entry

Natalie Massenet reportedly raked in £70m through what could be the fashion deal of the year when Net-a-Porter agreed to merge with Yoox in March. The move valued Net-a-Porter at £1bn and Massenet became executive chairman of the new business. Net-a-Porter swung to an £11m profit in the year to March 30 following a £9.7m loss in 2014.

66. Euan Sutherland

• Chief executive, SuperGroup
• Re-entry

Euan Sutherland has shaken off his short-lived stint as boss of the Co-operative Group to start making his mark at SuperGroup. Since his arrival in October, he’s helped buy the company out of its US distribution licence, giving it exclusive rights to sell its goods in the region. SuperGroup posted strong like-for-like growth over Christmas.

67. Darren Shapland

• Chairman, Topps Tiles; chairman, Poundland; chairman, Maplin
• 2014 rank: 67

Darren Shapland made his name at Sainsbury’s where he held various senior positions, but has since branched out away from grocery to almost every other sector. A former boss of Carpetright, the retail veteran has clocked up 25 years’ retail experience, and is chairman of no fewer than three retailers; Poundland, Maplin and Topps Tiles.

68. Barry Williams

• Chief customer officer, Asda
• New entry

Up until January, Barry Williams was chief merchandising officer for food at Asda – a tough gig as the supermarkets battle it out by slashing prices, all the while trying to fend off Aldi and Lidl. This year Williams withstood a senior management restructure and became chief customer officer, replacing Steve Smith who rejoined Walmart.

69. Richard Baker

• Executive chairman, DFS, and operating partner, Advent
• 2014 rank: 68

As executive chairman of DFS, Richard Baker has helped to preside over a new chapter at the business as the furniture chain returned to the stock market in March. The retailer revealed rising sales and profits in its maiden results following the flotation, indicating that the market has recovered.

70. Stacey Cartwright

• Chief executive, Harvey Nichols  
• 2014 rank: 69

Since former Burberry executive vice-president Stacey Cartwright took up the reins at Harvey Nichols last year, the luxury department store has cut the ribbon on a seven-floor store in Azerbaijan and opened a ‘VIP’ style advisers service at its Knightsbridge flagship, as it brings a Champagne experience to its wealthy customer base.

71. Belinda Earl

• Style director, Marks & Spencer
• 2014 rank: 76

Belinda Earl was summoned in by Marc Bolland in 2012 to help shake up M&S’s struggling clothing arm. The fashion guru has focused on bringing quality into the ranges. Last month, M&S reported its first annual profit rise in four years, and in the fourth quarter general merchandise sales returned to growth after 14 consecutive quarters of decline.

72. Kate Bostock

• Chief executive, Coast
• 2014 rank: 46

Since taking up the reins in September 2013, Kate Bostock has worked hard to expand Coast’s product line so that it’s more than just the go-to place for occasionwear. Bostock recently appointed her former M&S colleague Andrew Skinner as managing director in a move that allows the fashion supremo to focus on getting her creative juices flowing.

73. The weather

• Re-entry

Retailers do like to talk about the weather a lot, but the unseasonably warm autumn in 2014, which deterred consumers from stocking up on winter coats, boots and knitwear, was a real headache for the fashion sector. It was the talk of trading updates and calls for months following the devastating impact it had on sales and profits.

74. Matt Moulding

• Founder and chief executive, The Hut
• 2014 rank: 75

With record sales and profits, Matt Moulding has delivered yet another sparkling year at The Hut. EBITDA rocketed 50% to £22.6m in its full year to December 2014 as the company sent 13 million orders to 190 countries. It continues to invest – pumping £15m alone into developing its tech platform to support international expansion.

75. Catriona Marshall

• Chief executive, Hobbycraft
• 2014 rank: 66

As the chief executive of Hobbycraft, Catriona Marshall has had a busy year. The retailer revealed a slip in full-year profits in September as it rejigged its pricing plan in order to fight back against competitors such as Amazon and eBay. It also splashed out £3m on a new distribution centre in Burton-upon-Trent.

76. Simon King

• Managing director, Wickes
• 2014 rank: 72

It’s been a decent year for Wickes managing director Simon King after the Travis Perkins-owned firm delivered an impressive rise in sales and profits thanks to the changes it made to its branded ranges, promotions and customer service. In the past year Wickes revealed a new website and introduced a one-hour click-and-collect service.

77. Darren Blackhurst

• Group commercial director, Morrisons
• 2014 rank: 78

In May, Morrisons hired B&Q commercial director and former Matalan chief executive Darren Blackhurst as group commercial director. The supermarket has been without a commercial director since November 2012 after it parted company with Richard Hodsgon over concerns its fresh food proposition was being insufficiently communicated.

78. Mark Newton-Jones

• Chief executive, Mothercare
• 2014 rank: 83

In the past year Mark Newton-Jones has brought Mothercare back into the black as the charismatic leader continues to overhaul the retailer, focusing on modernising and cutting back on discounting, as part of a wider company turnaround plan. He’s signalled his commitment by investing £400,000 of his own money into the business.

79. Tanya Lawler

• Vice-president of UK trading, eBay
• 2014 rank: 79

Pure-play etailers continue to close the gap with their bricks-and-mortar rivals. Under Tanya Lawler, eBay UK has inked deals with Argos including enabling customers to pick up items from the retailer’s stores, and more recently letting them drop off sold items at an Argos shop.

80. Stephen Sunnucks

• Global president, Gap  
• 2014 rank: 74

Stephen Sunnucks has slipped down the list after Gap experienced a pretty rocky year. The fashion chain reported a slowdown in sales, axed its creative director Rebekka Bay and decided to pull the plug on its designer footwear and clothing brand, Piperlime. Analysts criticised Gap’s ‘Dress Normal’ campaign for being unexciting.

81. Andy Harding

• Chief customer officer, House of Fraser
• New entry

Andy Harding joins the list thanks to his multichannel success at House of Fraser, which earned him a promotion to chief customer officer earlier this year. Under his watch, the department store has bolstered its delivery service, offering customers guaranteed delivery before 9am for online orders placed before 7pm the evening before.

82. Derek Lovelock

• Executive chairman and interim chief executive, Mamas & Papas  
• 2014 rank: 82

The former chief executive of Aurora Fashions threw his energy into the maternity and baby retail sector last year when he became interim chief executive of troubled Mamas & Papas in August. The fashion veteran held the post until January this year when Chris Yates was brought in. However, he picked up the baton once again two months later.

83. John Cleland

• Chief executive, Maplin
• 2014 rank: 81

John Cleland has kept Maplin powering ahead with a focus on improving its product range and customer service in the past year. With new private-equity owner Rutland Partners, and the opening of its first airport store and first trade counter in Sheffield, major change is taking place at the electronics specialist. 

84. Majid Ishaq

• Managing director, Rothschild
• 2014 rank: 77

As managing director of financial advisory group Rothschild, Majid Ishaq continues to be one of the most well-known retail specialists. The lead adviser on AO World’s £1.2bn float last March, Ishaq gives sound advice and knowledge to help companies make major strategic decisions. He also helped Kingfisher offload its stake in B&Q China.

85. Andrew Livingston

• Chief executive, Screwfix
• New entry

The boss of Screwfix spoke of the company’s “world-class” multichannel service at Retail Week Live this year, adding that 33% of online orders are picked up within an hour of being placed. Its omnichannel offer boosted the retailer’s like-for-likes 15.4% in the 13 weeks to May 2. It plans to open 60 stores this year and launch new apps.

86. Steve Murrells

• Chief executive of retail, The Co-operative Food
• 2014 rank: 86

What with the near-collapse of its bank and the departure of its boss, 2014 was a torrid year for the Co-op Group. However, Steve Murrells has helped deliver both like-for-like and profit growth at its food business, despite intense competition in the grocery market. Last year it acquired 82 convenience stores and revamped 700 others.

87. Christopher Bailey

• Chief creative and chief executive officer, Burberry
• 2014 rank: 80

Christopher Bailey became chief creative and chief executive officer in May last year and so far he’s proved the doubters wrong. Sales are bolstering under Bailey, who continues as the brand’s creative eye but also brings strong innovation to the retailer, which sent its Twitter followers personalised pictures of its London Fashion Week show in February.

88. Julian Dunkerton

• Founder and product and brand director, SuperGroup  
• 2014 rank: 51

A significant drop for Julian Dunkerton after the former SuperGroup chief executive handed the reins to former Co-op boss Euan Sutherland in October. The change at the top meant Dunkerton moved to the new role of product and brand director, allowing him to focus on developing product ranges, and enhancing and protecting the brand.

89. David McCorquodale

• Head of retail, KPMG
• 2014 rank: 87

As the voice of the British Retail Consortium’s retail sales figures, KPMG’s head of retail David McCorquodale is known for adding commentary to the monthly numbers. In his day-to-day role he continues to work on some of the most significant deals in the sector’s clothing arm.

90. Ben Lewis

• Chief executive, River Island
• New entry

He presides over one of the most well-known fashion chains in the UK, but Ben Lewis is no Sir Philip Green – you won’t find him partying on a yacht with the likes of Rihanna, who collaborated with the high street chain last year. Earlier this year, the retailer launched a new store concept at its Bullring and Oxford Circus branches.

91. Paul Coby

• Chief information officer, John Lewis
• 2014 rank: 94

The man behind John Lewis’ seamless omnichannel experience is IT chief Paul Coby. The department store group continues to trump others when it comes to providing a slick IT operation, with click-and-collect sales firmly on the up. John Lewis is reportedly investing £100m in IT this year alone.

92. Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane

• Joint chief executives, Boohoo
• New entry

Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane, the duo running Asos rival Boohoo, have enjoyed rising sales at the etailer.

However, it’s not been a smooth ride since the company went public in March 2014; Boohoo was forced to issue a profit warning in January. Revenue for the full-year to February 28 was up 27% to £139.8m at the etailer.

93. Helen Dickinson

• Director-general, British Retail Consortium     
• 2014 rank: 93

As director-general of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson continues to make sure retailers’ voices are heard. On the top of her agenda has been overhauling business rates, which continue to stifle the industry, and ensuring that the Government considers welfare issues, rather than substantially increasing the minimum wage.

94. James Daunt

• Managing director, Waterstones, and founder, Daunt Books
• 2014 rank: 85

The man who saved Waterstones continues to battle against Amazon, ensuring book lovers pick up their novels at the UK’s biggest book chain or at his own independent chain, Daunt Books. James Daunt even managed to swing a resurgence in print, encouraging him to open 12 new Waterstones branches this year.

95. The headhunters

• New entry

Using their specialised knowledge and an enviable book of contacts, headhunters have continued to prove their salt this year, bringing in the best talent. Many retailers have made significant hires at senior level in the past 12 months, including David Potts joining Morrisons and Matt Davies moving to Tesco.

96. Wilf Walsh

• Chief executive, Carpetright
• New entry

He was a relative unknown after being out of retail for several years when he was appointed as boss of Carpetright in July last year, but Wilf Walsh has surpassed all expectations. The retail chain is set to beat profit forecasts in its full-year results this month, while Walsh has also turned around Carpetright’s European operation.

97. Beth Butterwick

• Chief executive, Bonmarché
• 2014 rank: 97

Beth Butterwick continues to rebuild Bonmarché to make the value retailer more relevant to today’s mature female shopper. She’s also testing new ground – the retailer dipped its toes into menswear last year. Although the chain was hit by the unseasonal weather in the autumn, Bonmarché is on track to deliver healthy profit growth in June.

98. Allan Leighton

• Independent non-executive chairman, Co-operative Group
• New entry

He’s run Asda and chaired Royal Mail, but this year Allan Leighton stepped into another challenging role as non-executive chairman of the troubled Co-operative Group. Retail sales are improving under his watch, but Leighton suffered a bruising AGM after almost 40,000 members failed to back reformed pay plans.

99. Jon Rudoe

• Digital and technology director, Sainsbury’s
• New entry

Last year Jon Rudoe was promoted to the grocer’s operating board, in a clear signal of boss Mike Coupe’s intent that technology will play a key part in the grocer’s future growth. Since then, Rudoe has been driving the innovation agenda in an effort to improve customers’ digital experience and develop products that will help make their lives easier.

100. Angus Thirlwell

• Co-founder, Hotel Chocolat
• New entry

Angus Thirlwell has been the driving force behind Hotel Chocolat’s success since it formed 10 years ago. The retailer operates 81 stores against Thorntons’ 247, and a new 1,500 sq ft flagship boutique store is due to open in Regent Street this summer. The retailer will also be “upping the ante” with international expansion, according to Thirlwell.

Retail Week Power List in full

Highest risers

Biggest fallers

New entries

Re-entries

Tim Vallance, lead director – UK retail & leisure at JLL

Congratulations to everyone included in this year’s Power List

As consumer behaviour evolves, retailers must keep pace with these changes. Many of this year’s top 100 have demonstrated how they are adapting to the shifting retail landscape, earning them their place in the list.

Low inflation and wage growth are boosting consumer confidence, which is good news for the retail market as people begin to spend again. In property terms, the big issue facing retailers is ensuring that they have the right balance between physical and virtual space.

As the recent move by Google to open its first store demonstrates, physical space alongside a virtual offering is crucial. Providing an experiential retail ‘place’ is all part of the formation of a brand and identity that are increasingly important attributes for retailers in a world where consumers are time-poor and faced with a crowded marketplace.

Grocers are also in the spotlight – many featuring in this year’s list. Certainly, the price-cutting race that has occurred as a result of ‘grocery wars’ has led to deflation in the sector, and this is something that can’t be sustained.

What we will start to see becoming more predominant is the race for ‘convenient’ space. This will be the new battleground over the next year, along with increased competition over digital innovation in terms of customer service.

Better integration between the physical and virtual retail worlds, price, convenience, online capability, provenance and service will determine the eventual supermarket war victors. There is no reason that this can’t be one of the big four.

Andrew Lawson, Salesforce

The Power List shines a light on the leaders and visionaries behind the UK’s retail trailblazers

Andrew Lawson, UKI managing director at Salesforce

Salesforce congratulates all on this year’s list – not because it is a benchmark, but because it celebrates leaders who are truly putting customers at the heart of retail.

Leadership is never more vital than during times of transition and, because retail customers change constantly, that is continuous. Today they are more demanding and challenging than ever; more connected, more social and more aware of their ability to influence brands.

Smartphone penetration has topped 80% – that’s only the tip of the mobile iceberg, as people increasingly use an array of devices. In return for their loyalty they increasingly expect the real world to deliver the same agility, personal service and innovation they get online, creating pressure to innovate, develop apps and create offers that transcend channels.

Retailers are creating blended engagement models that drive the power of personalisation and digital analytics in store. This list showcases leaders who not only understand this, but are making it reality and putting customers at the core. They are avoiding distractions, focusing on meeting expectations and delivering easy, personalised journeys for every customer, on any device.

David Ringer, regional director at TCC

TCC is proud to sponsor the Retail Week Power List and we congratulate all those included.

In today’s highly competitive retail landscape, the ability to engage with consumers and influence their spending decisions at every stage of the shopper journey is more essential now than ever before. Today’s consumers are increasingly choosing retailers that not only offer good value but that create shopping experiences that give them a genuine and tangible incentive to return.  

At TCC, we’ve been working with leading retailers for almost 25 years, creating retail loyalty campaigns that engage, surprise and delight shoppers. These campaigns encourage shoppers to visit more, increase spend and provide genuine differentiation.

Having run more than 6,000 campaigns in 70 countries, our campaigns are proven to boost total store sales and transform shoppers into committed advocates for retailers, while delivering substantial returns on investment.

The Power List 2015
The Retail Week Power List 2015 unveils the 100 most influential people in retail

Written by Laura Heywood, George MacDonald,
Nicola Harrison, Luke Tugby,
Matthew Chapman and Suzie Bearne

Produced by Tracey Gardner, Abigail O'Sullivan 
and Nathan May

Video editing by Roland Bodenham

In partnership with JLL, Salesforce and TCC