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New Look has appointed Chief Operating Officer Lynda Petherick as its next CEO, following an improvement in earnings and further investment in customer data technology.
At a glance
- Lynda Petherick will become CEO on 22 September 2026, succeeding Helen Connolly.
- First-quarter EBITDA reached £17.4 million, up £1.8 million against the prior year.
- Club New Look has passed one million members, while key debt maturities have been extended to 2029.
Petherick to take over in September
Petherick will assume the role of CEO on 22 September. Connolly, who has led the business for six years, will remain with New Look until 21 September to support the leadership transition.
Petherick joined the UK fashion brand in 2024 as Chief Information Officer, where she led its digital transformation, before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2025. New Look said she has since helped improve operational performance and expand the use of data and technology across the business.
Before joining New Look, Petherick was Managing Director at Accenture, leading the consultancy’s retail and fashion advisory business in the UK and Ireland.
She also served on the British Fashion Council’s Board between November 2022 and January 2026, supporting sustainability initiatives, including the Circular Fashion Innovation Network.
New Look Chairman Mike Coupe said Petherick combines commercial judgement with operational discipline and has a deep understanding of the brand and its customers.
Petherick added: “New Look is a fantastic brand, with a clear position in the market, millions of loyal customers and talented colleagues who care passionately about its success.
“It is a privilege to be appointed Chief Executive. I am excited about what New Look can achieve and look forward to working with our brilliant teams to build on the strong progress already made and deliver the next phase of sustainable, profitable growth.”
New Look reports strongest financial performance in a decade
The leadership change follows what New Look describes as its strongest financial performance in a decade. FY26 EBITDA increased to £36.6 million from £14.3 million, driven by stronger margins, tighter markdown and stock controls, and a lower cost base.
The brand said trading strengthened as the first quarter progressed, with customers responding positively to recent collections. First-quarter store conversion and average transaction value also improved, while margins remained ahead of the previous year.
Digital channels now account for around 40% of group revenue, complementing New Look’s 309-store estate. The business plans to build further on its omnichannel strategy by expanding Club New Look across both physical stores and digital channels. According to the company, loyalty members shop around seven times more frequently and spend approximately 9.5 times more each year than non-members.
To support these ambitions, New Look has launched New Look Pulse, a proprietary platform that combines millions of data points from customers, products, stores, loyalty activity and the wider market. The platform is designed to improve demand forecasting, range planning, pricing and investment decisions.
The brand has also completed the refinancing of its term loan and operational facilities, extending key debt maturities to 2029. New Look said the agreement will support targeted investment in its store estate, digital capabilities and operational efficiency.