Jo Whitfield CBE has been appointed as the new Chair-elect of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), succeeding Andy Higginson on 2 October 2025. Whitfield brings 25 years of retail experience, including leadership roles at Matalan, the Co-operative Group, and Asda, and currently serves as Non-Executive and Audit Chair at Asda and Non-Executive and Chair of Ethics Committee at Factory International. She previously founded The Grocery Girls network and served as a Retail Sector Lead on the Women's Business Council.
© BRC LinkedIn
Jo Whitfield (left) and Eve Williams (right).
Whitfield said: 'I'm honoured to be joining the BRC as its first female Chair, and to be supporting Helen and her team at such a pivotal time. Retail is an incredibly valuable industry, employing over 3 million people who support their families through their work. It's also uniquely inclusive and many of us have built our careers from the shop floor or from working-class backgrounds, rising into leadership roles and enjoying fulfilling careers.'
She added: 'Retailers are at the heart of communities, and we're acutely aware of the many government policies currently under consideration that could either support or hinder our industry. This is a critical moment for us all and now more than ever, we need a strong, united voice. I look forward to working closely with Helen and the team to ensure the interests of our industry are championed and protected.'
Joining Whitfield on the Board is Eve Williams, VP and General Manager of eBay UK, who stated: 'Retailers are currently navigating a truly unprecedented pace of change. I have experienced first-hand the importance of the BRC's work and the strength of its diverse membership to make a positive difference amidst this backdrop. The challenges of sustainability, digital transformation, and creating fair opportunity across the industry are all passion points for me and areas where the BRC has achieved much already - I'm energised to be working with the Board on these areas and more as the team continues to influence impactful change.'
Outgoing Chair Andy Higginson commented: 'The last few years have been a challenging time for retail where the importance of the BRC has never been greater… I am delighted that Jo and Eve have agreed to join the Board and wish them every success in their new roles.'
Helen Dickinson, BRC Chief Executive, welcomed the appointments: 'Jo and Eve join the Board as we deal with multiple public policy headwinds and more to do on big issues like climate change, inclusion, and creating the right environment for growth and investment… It is great to welcome two more women to our Board and our first female Chair.'
The BRC represents over 200 UK retailers and thousands of smaller businesses, making it the country's largest private sector employer and a central voice in shaping the retail industry's future.
More information:
British Retail Consortium (BRC)
[email protected]
www.brc.org.uk
