British clothing retailer Next’s CFO to retire next year

LONDON (Reuters) -British clothing retailer Next said on Monday its finance chief Amanda James will step down in July after 28 years with the firm.

Next named Jonathan Blanchard, currently the CFO and chief operating officer of clothing business Reiss, as James’ successor.

“Amanda has been planning this change for some time and it coincides with her husband’s retirement,” Next said in a statement.

It said Blanchard will join Next in February and take over as CFO in July.

Last month, Next increased its equity stake in Reiss to 72%. Next also raised its profit outlook for the third time in four months.

(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru and James Davey in London; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Bill Berkrot)

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