Mothercare chairman departs just weeks after its chief executive steps down

MOTHERCARE HAS announced the departure of its chairman in what is shaping up to be a clean sweep of its top ranks after parting company with its chief executive earlier this month.

The company said Alan Parker had “retired from his position” after six years as non-executive chairman and that it had appointed Clive Whiley as its interim executive chairman with immediate effect.

“The board thanks Alan for his calm leadership through a challenging period, his support and encouragement for the board and the significant contribution he has made to Mothercare over the years,” the company said.

Mr Whiley, who has been given a minimum nine-month term, will be paid a base salary of £480,000 per year.

The 57-year-old holds a number of roles including as nonexecutive director for the likes of stamp specialist Stanley Gibbons and is among the leadership at China Venture Capital Management.

The move comes just weeks after the embattled retailer announced that its chief executive Mark Newton-Jones was stepping down immediately to be replaced by former Tesco man David Wood.

It is understood that the board had come to the view that Mr Newton-Jones’s transformation strategy was taking too long to bear fruit.

Commenting on his own departure, Mr Parker said: “After completing six years as chairman, I feel the time is right to hand over the chairmanship of Mothercare to Clive.

“His experience of successful restructuring and refinancing will help steer Mothercare through its next phase.

“I am very pleased that he is taking on the role and wish him, the board and Mothercare’s management team every success in the future.”

The top level transitions come at a difficult time for Mothercare, which recently appointed KPMG to advise on a refinancing of the firm.