Mothercare chief axed in Storehouse restructure

Mothercare UK marketing director Steve Foulser has been squeezed out of the Storehouse-owned group, following a strategic review led by its new chief executive Chris Martin.

A spokeswoman for Storehouse, to be renamed Mothercare plc, says the review aims to integrate Mothercare’s three separate divisions – Mothercare UK, Mothercare International and Mothercare Direct, its Internet and catalogue division.

She says the shake-up has removed the need for either a marketing or managing director of its UK arm. But the company is seeking a marketing director covering the three areas.

The move follows dire financial results for the year to April revealing a £389m pre-tax loss for Storehouse on a turnover of £1,266m. Storehouse announced the completion of the sale of the Bhs chain to Monaco-based entrepreneur Philip Green. Storehouse said that Mothercare UK managing director Greg Tufnell had also left the company.

Storehouse chairman Alan Smith said: “He led the strategic review of this business last summer and will now lead the acceleration of the Mothercare recovery programme.”