Matalan has announced the appointment of Henrik Nordvall, former H&M UK and Ireland Managing Director, as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective February 2026. Nordvall succeeds Jo Whitfield, who stepped down in October 2024.
Following Whitfield’s departure, Executive Chair Karl-Heinz Holland has been overseeing the business and will now return to his position as Chair of the Board once Nordvall assumes leadership.
With over 17 years at H&M, Nordvall brings a wealth of experience in apparel retail, operations, and leadership, having led the UK and Ireland business through a period of transformation and growth. His proven expertise in retail strategy, customer engagement, and organizational leadership positions him strongly to guide Matalan through its next phase of development.
The appointment comes amid a period of strategic transformation for Matalan, as the company strengthens its leadership bench with key hires from leading UK retailers. Recent additions include Jo Bennett (Director of Buying and Design, formerly John Lewis and Sainsbury’s Tu), Jon Williams (Director of Trading, Planning and Merchandising, formerly John Lewis), Eilidh MacAskill (Director of Marketing, formerly Ocado, Asda, and Monsoon Accessorize), and Andreas Nicolaides (Director of Digital, formerly John Lewis).
Working alongside Chief Product, Brand and Commercial Officer Sarah Welsh, who joined from N Brown earlier in 2025, this expanded leadership team positions Matalan to drive forward its mission of offering affordable, quality fashion and homeware with a renewed focus on digital growth, product innovation, and customer experience.
With Henrik Nordvall at the helm, Matalan enters 2026 with strong momentum and a clear vision to enhance its relevance, agility, and value in the evolving UK retail landscape.
