Dunelm CEO to retire amid strong H1 trading
Looking ahead, Dunelm announced that Wilkinson will remain in his role of CEO until a successor is appointed
Dunelm CEO Nick Wilkinson is set to retire from his position following seven years in the role as Dunelm announced strong trading for the first half of the year.
The company saw its total sales rise 2.4% to £893.7m, up from £872.5m in the same period last year, during the six month period ended 28 December 2024.
Alongside this, Dunelm’s profit-before-tax edged up 0.2% to £123.2m, up from £123m, for the period.
The company registered strong digital performance, with 39% of its total sales generated through digital channels, up from 36% in the same period last year.
Dunelm stated that it continued to improve its digital offering whilst expanding its store portfolio to inner London, and also Ireland via its acquisition of Home Focus.
Looking ahead, Dunelm announced that Wilkinson will remain in his role of CEO until a successor is appointed.
The company will commence a “formal and thorough” recruitment process for his successor, considering both internal and external candidates.
Wilkinson said: “Our performance over the first half reflects the growing attraction of the Dunelm offer for a wide range of customers, and the quality and resilience of our business model. Amidst a challenging backdrop for retail, those attributes have helped us deliver increased sales, a strong gross margin, and both customer and market share growth.
“Our thriving total retail system is connecting that product with more customers, and we saw further growth in our increasingly personalised digital channels, as well as some exciting firsts for our store portfolio; we arrived in inner London at Westfield, acquired 13 stores in Ireland, and we will open our 200th store in the second half.”
He added: It is a real privilege to lead a business I love, and being a part of Dunelm’s growth story is as fulfilling now as it was on day one. However, personally, it feels like I’m approaching the right time to step away from full-time executive life.
“Whilst this will be the final stage of my Dunelm journey, I’ve never been more confident in the opportunities ahead for this special brand. There remains lots to do, and much to learn, as Dunelm continues to grow and develop. So, for now, it’s business as usual for me.”
