Temperley chief quits over family

PATRICIA Sancho, chief executive at the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite dressmaker Alice Temperley, has resigned her position at the fashion label for ‘difficult family reasons’.

Sancho, who was drafted in last year, has returned to Spain over summer and has been replaced, founder Temperley said last night. Her departure is the latest twist in the saga of Temperley’s designer label. In February The Mail on Sunday revealed that Temperley Holdings had run up further losses of nearly £2million for the last set of accounts and had losses of more than £19 million since it was set up in 2009.

Auditors RSM posted a warning of ‘a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the group’s… ability to continue as a growing concern.’

When The MoS contacted Temperley yesterday, the wellconnected designer said, ‘Sadly Patricia had to move back to Spain for difficult family reasons earlier in the summer. We have a great new CEO, Sally Hughes, in place who has come with a fantastic background, including Innocent, Google and Net-aPorter.’ Temperley said in February she has the backing of shareholders and the accounts stated the brand ‘now has the right operational structure, personnel and trading plans in place’ to drive growth.

Temperley’s impeccable Society credentials and connections have only served to burnish the reputation of her bohemian flowing frocks, which have won a legion of famous clients and cost more than £2,000 each.