VETERAN retailer Lord Harris has unveiled plans to give up the day-to-day running of the Carpetright business he founded 25 years ago.
The Tory peer, who has been in the carpet trade for more than 50 years, will relinquish the role of chief executive but remain as non-executive chairman following a handover period to new boss Darren Shapland.
Mr Shapland, 44, is Carpetright’s former finance boss and is returning to executive duties at the retailer after a spell working at Sainsbury’s.
The move follows tough trading at Carpetright, which has seen pre-tax profits fall to less than a third of 2008 levels.
Lord Harris, 69, said: “Darren knows our business well and I am confident he will make a huge contribution to its future.”
