University to honour Beth

A FORMER boss of ladieswear retailer Bonmarché is to be honoured by the University of Huddersfield.

Beth Butterwick, who spent five years with the Grange Moor-based company before joining global fashion retailer Karen Millen as chief executive officer, will receive an honorary doctorate for services to retail and business. She will receive the award at the university’s November award ceremonies.

After completed a fashion and marketing degree, she joined Marks & Spencer’s graduate training scheme and spent 16 years in the clothing division.

She joined Gap Inc in 2005 as part of the senior management team responsible for its European expansion programme. In 2009, she joined MS Mode BV, part of KKR’s Maxeda Group as commercial director based in Amsterdam.

Two years later, she took the role of brand director at Bonmarché – but just eight weeks into the role, the business was put into administration. Beth led the successful sale process of the business to private equity group Sun Europe LLP and, during her five years with the company, steered Bonmarché through a massive turnaround, including a successful stock market flotation in 2013.

Last year, Beth took up her current role at Karen Millen to transform the business and prepare it for eventual sale.

In 2015, Beth was named the Draper’s 2015 Retail Personality of the Year and was awarded Barclay’s Business Woman of the Year in recognition of her dedication and services to Bonmarché.