We are pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Athron, Chief Executive of Fortnum & Mason, as the new Chair of Walpole – a role he will assume on Tuesday 1st July 2025. Athron succeeds Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods, who steps down after serving the maximum tenure of nine years overseeing the organisation, and who takes on a newly created advisory role at Walpole as President Emeritus.
Athron, who has led Fortnum & Mason since December 2020, is a highly experienced retail executive. Prior to his current role, he was Chief Operating Officer at Matchesfashion, where he was responsible for scaling the business globally. He also spent 13 years at the John Lewis Partnership, serving in several senior positions including on the main board, and founding its innovation arm, JLP Ventures.
"It is a privilege to take on the role of Chair at Walpole," said Athron of his appointment. "I look forward to working closely with Chief Executive Helen Brocklebank, the board, and our members to continue advancing Walpole’s mission to promote, protect, and develop the British luxury sector, both in the UK and internationally.
"On behalf of the board and our members, I would like to thank Michael for his outstanding contribution to the organisation and for the passion and energy he has brought to everything Walpole does."
"Over what has been an exceptionally turbulent nine years for business, I am incredibly proud of the role Walpole has played in shaping public perceptions of British luxury and in championing the sector," commented Ward. "Thanks to this work, our industry is now well positioned for continued recognition and growth.
"My warmest congratulations to Tom, I am delighted he has agreed to take on the role of Chair and sincere thanks also go to Walpole’s board and to Helen. I am honoured to become President Emeritus and to continue supporting the upward trajectory of both Walpole and the sector as a whole.”
Ward remains President of the European Creative and Cultural Industries Alliance (ECCIA), the group that brings together all the European luxury associations under one umbrella, until January 2026 when Walpole’s two-year rolling presidency ends.
