River Island has reportedly announced that its head of marketing, Jill Gate, has resigned from her post, effective immediately.
According to a report by Drapers, Gate has left the fashion retailer to pursue new opportunities. She joined River Island in December 2020 from Photobox and previously held senior marketing positions at Oasis and Warehouse.
According to the publication, River Island director Vanessa Lewis will take on a new role as the brand’s creative director, working closely with chief product officer Phil Cooke.
The departure comes just a week after River Island CEO Will Kernan announced his retirement to pursue “personal and business projects.” The company said Kernan will remain with the company for a few months to ensure a successful transition. Kernan joined the company in September 2019 as CEO. Previously, he held various leadership positions at companies such as The White Company, Wiggle and New Look.
River Island is one of a number of UK retailers grappling with the fallout from the pandemic, which has seen sales and profits slump. In August 2020, the company announced plans to cut 350 managerial positions before unveiling new initiatives to take advantage of the rebounding economy. This included a strategy to expand its presence in the US, where the retailer opened its first store following a jump in profits.
This translated and edited post previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk.