BAA director of retail quits for Asprey

Bob Knowles, the retail director of British Airports Authority, is leaving to join royal jewellers Asprey which owns Garrard, Mappin & Webb and Watches of Switzerland.

Knowles is understood to be taking up a joint management position and will be in charge of the Watches of Switzerland chain of stores. He will report to chief executive Ian Dahl.

Knowles leaves shortly after BAA purchased the Allders chain of duty free stores for 130m. It consists of 100 airport and 84 cruiseship shops.

He joins Asprey as the company undergoes a restructure brought about after its purchase by Prince Jefri Bolkiah, younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei, who bought Asprey at the end of last year. The revamp follows a period of uncertainty last year when Asprey’s share price tumbled and it was reported to be near bankruptcy.

Dahl is known to want to develop Asprey as a luxury brand. He plans to open shops in the US and along the Pacific rim.