High street 2030: what’s the future?

Session chair: Simon Gray, Head of Business, ICAEW
Simon is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, who qualified with KPMG in Nottingham. After many years of volunteering, including District Society President, Chair of the Business Committee and Council Member, he joined ICAEW as Head of Business in December 2021. His background is in the recruitment, careers, membership and inward investment sectors. Simon has started and run his own businesses and served as a Non-Executive Director.

Peter Williams, Chair and Non-Executive Director
Peter is currently Chairman of ACS Clothing, the UK’s leading circular fashion enabler; Senior Independent Director at Home REIT plc; a non-executive director at the shopping centre owner SGS Group; and a trustee of Somerset House and The Architectural Heritage Fund. He has enjoyed a distinguished career in the wider fashion and retail sector. Prior to his current non-executive appointments, he was Chairman of a number of globally-acclaimed brands including Sophia Webster, boohoo, Superdry, Jaeger and Blacks. He also served on the board of ASOS for eight years. Williams also held the role of CFO at Selfridges, before subsequently taking up the reigns as CEO. During his thirteen years at the business, the Oxford Street store underwent a major transformation, the company was publicly listed, and three additional stores were opened outside London.

Jane Pendlebury, Chief Executive Officer, Hospa
Jane Pendlebury is a successful and well-known personality within the worldwide hospitality arena, her career has been dedicated to hospitality. Ambition and enthusiasm have resulted in high achievements and recognition in the field. Jane ran the Membership and Events office for HOSPA from 2014-2016 before being promoted to CEO. Her involvement in HOSPA (previously BAHA) started many years ago as a Member and a Corporate Gold Sponsor. Jane has been part of the operations team for HOSPACE since 2010.

Stephen Springham, Head of Retail Research, Knight Frank
Stephen has more than 20 years’ experience working exclusively in the retail sector, in a research, analysis and consulting capacity. He has a uniquely ‘holistic’ view of retail, having worked for an array of employers with varying focuses on the retail sector – Retail Analysis, Strategic/Management Consultancy, M&A/Due Diligence, Equity Performance, Accountancy and Property. His initial focus was on retail occupier markets, working as a retail analyst and developing a deep understanding of key drivers and performance of consumer and retail markets. For the last 15 years, he had specialised in retail property, initially working as a Retail Consultant for Experian and subsequently as Head of Retail Research for the property advisor King Sturge ﴾transferring to the role of Director of Retail Research at Jones Lang LaSalle following the two companies’ merger in 2011﴿. He joined Knight Frank’s Retail Team in April 2015 to head up and drive the Retail Research function.