Ex-La Redoute International chief Truluck is new Joe Browns chairman

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Nov 14, 2023

Joe Browns has a new chairman with Michael Truluck having joined the Leeds-based fashion and homewares retailer with immediate effect.

It will be his first stint as a company chairman although he has an impressive track record in other leadership positions. 

He was most recently CEO of La Redoute International but left “to spend more time with his family in Yorkshire and to build a non-exec portfolio”. 

He joins at a time of fast growth for 25-year-old Joe Browns, which is adding 10 new stores by 2024 and that opened “a hugely successful” new franchisee-operated store in Bowness on Windermere in the summer.

The company also completed a £2 million warehouse upgrade to “support growth ambitions and increase pick face capacity”, as well as debuting on TV with its AW23 and Christmas TV advertising. 

Truluck acknowledged this, saying: “I join at probably the most exciting time in the brand’s history. With a unique and confident approach to remarkable product across womenswear, menswear and home it means Joe Browns really stands out in the market — something that has been evident by the growth delivered by [founder] Simon [Brown], [CEO] Peter [Alecock] and the team.

“With a great leadership team in place I look forward to supporting them by ensuring that Joe Browns is seen and loved by more customers than ever before.  Be it through stores, an even stronger online experience or third-party partnerships – and from what I have seen already it’s all to play for from a really firm foundation.”

Simon Brown added: “I couldn’t be happier to welcome Michael into the Joe Browns family. We met years ago during a business meeting and I wrote in my notebook at the time ‘This guy is smart. Keep in-touch.’… I didn’t. Later down the line our paths crossed again, and I made a similar scribble. When I learned Michael was looking for a non-exec role I was keen to meet with him and discuss the vision for Joe Browns future, and establish if he shared a similar excitement for our opportunities. It’s safe to say he could see the wealth of potential in our unique offering and I’m excited to have him along for the journey.”