Manchester-based clothing and footwear digital retailer N Brown Group announced that Ron McMillan will retire as chair and step down from the board with effect from April 30, 2024, for “personal reasons.”

N Brown’s retail brands include Simply Be, JD Williams and Jacamo. The firm employs over 1,700 people.

McMillan has been on the N Brown board for 11 years.

N Brown said it will appoint Steve Johnson as interim executive chair and CEO until a new permanent chair is appointed.

Johnson said: “Ron has made a significant contribution as chair and has played a critical role in the transformation of this company.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Ron for his dedication to N Brown.”  

Meg Lustman, independent non-executive director, will assume the role of interim chair of the nominations and governance committee until a permanent successor is appointed.

N Brown also announced that Vicky Mitchell, an independent non-executive director, intends to step down from the board “in order to focus on other professional commitments” following the company’s AGM in July 2024.

The firm is commencing a process to identify and appoint an additional independent non-executive director.