Ewan Venters, the former Fortnum & Mason chief, is joining the board of Paul Smith Ltd, the design company best-known for its striped fashion garments.
Sky News understands that Mr Venters, who recently stepped down as the boss of global contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth, has agreed to become a non-executive of Paul Smith – whose eponymous founder remains heavily involved in the business.
Mr Venters, who also oversaw Artfarm’s acquisition of London’s Groucho Club during his stint with Hauser & Wirth, remains the chair of the private sector council of the government’s GREAT campaign.
He was also recently appointed as a member of the Soft Power Council jointly chaired by the foreign and culture secretaries, and is a trustee of the King’s Foundation.
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Paul Smith Ltd, which was founded in 1970, sold a large minority stake to Itochu, its Japanese licensing partner, in 2006.
Largely known for its menswear, the business has diversified into other areas of fashion and lifestyle design.
“Ewan is joining us at a pivotal moment for the company as we consider a number of key strategies to shape the future of our special brand,” said Sir Paul Smith, chairman and founder.
He added that Mr Venters’ “extensive experience in the retail, hospitality and cultural sectors will bring a welcome fresh perspective on what we do”.
Mr Venters oversaw a period of record performance during his eight years at Fortnum, prior to which he held management roles at Selfridges.
He was awarded an OBE in 2024 in the King’s Honours List in 2024 for services to international trade.
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“I have been friends with Sir Paul for some time, and I have long been an admirer of what is indisputably a great British brand,” Mr Venters said.
“This is a very exciting moment for the Paul Smith label, and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
