Ewan Venter to leave CEO role at Fortnum & Masons

Department store Fortnum and Mason has announced its CEO Ewan Venters is to leave the business in the new year to take up the post of CEO at Hauser and Wirth.

Venter, who has been CEO at the Piccadilly-based store since August 2012, will join the art gallery as its global CEO leading its operations in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Kate Hobhouse, chairman of Fortnum’s, said: “Ewan has been a highly successful leader of
this business, delivering consistent growth in profits, extending the footprint of the brand with new stores and driving product innovation. Ewan had a vision to make our brand more relevant to more people more often, and he has certainly fulfilled that.

“He leaves behind a business that is positioned to overcome the current difficulties of the retail sector and achieve even more success, and deserves great credit for this. I wish him all the very best in his new role.”

Venters added: “It is a tremendous wrench to leave Fortnum’s, which is truly one of the world’s great brands. I have enjoyed every minute of my time here, loved working with Kate, and I have had magnificent support from my team of executives, who I know will go on to achieve more success.

“It is, however, time for a new challenge and I have no doubt that Fortnum’s, which has overcome all manner of difficulties in its 313-year history, is in excellent shape to navigate the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and is well positioned for future growth.”

The company said it has already began the recruitment process for Venters’ successor.