Harrods shaken by top departure

Harrods’ group marketing director has quit just weeks after taking up the post.

American Nancy Spall left the London store last Friday. She was working a three-month trial period and replaced Trevor Bell, who resigned in May to become marketing director at retail group Facia.

A spokesman for Harrods says Spall had spent the past six weeks analysing the group marketing director’s role to determine how it could be developed. He adds the company does not know why she left. Spall started at Harrods on September 11 as a consultant (MW August 18).

Her departure means that Harrods will have to reassess its marketing department. It is unclear whether She will be replaced immediately.

The spokesman says Spall’s background meant she may not have been suited to her new role. “It’s a completely different culture working in retail,” he says. Spall previously developed the marketing strategy for World League of American Football in the UK and spearheaded its launch in Europe. She has also worked for Coca-Cola in the US.

Spall was to run a marketing budget for Harrods of more than 2.5m and reported to chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.