A protracted-serving former Harrods government, has determined to not develop into the boss of division retailer Fenwick regardless of being resulting from begin this month, the BBC has realized.
Nigel Blow labored at Harrods for 14 years from 1992 to 2007, a interval when the posh London retailer was owned by Mohamed Al Fayed.
It comes after the BBC broadcast a documentary final month based mostly on the accounts of greater than 20 girls who mentioned that they had been sexually assaulted or raped by Al Fayed whereas working at Harrods.
Following the allegations towards Al Fayed, Mr Blow declined to reply a number of requests for remark. A day after contacting Fenwick, nevertheless, the BBC was advised he would not be taking the function.
The BBC first tried to contact Mr Blow on 21 September – and acquired no response to a number of subsequent requests.
On 30 September Fenwick was contacted to ask if it had any remark to make in regards to the documentary and Mr Blow’s long-standing hyperlinks with Harrods.
About 24 hours later, Fenwick advised the BBC: “Nigel Blow has knowledgeable us that he’ll not be taking over this place.”
No purpose for the choice has been given.
Fenwick is greatest recognized for its 140-year-old retailer in Newcastle, and has eight shops across the UK. It closed its department on Bond Avenue in London earlier this 12 months.
Mr Blow has been the chief government of the privately-owned division retailer chain Morleys since 2019.
The BBC was advised “no remark” when it known as Morleys on Tuesday to ask if Mr Blow would retain his place on the agency. He’s nonetheless listed as chief government of Morleys on the LinkedIn social networking web site.
He joined Harrods as a merchandise controller in 1992, rising to chief service provider of the shop, with a seat on the board, in 2003.
There have been media reports of Al Fayed’s alleged abuse of girls throughout this era – a profile in Self-importance Honest in 1995 alleged sexual misconduct towards workers, then a documentary in 1997 and a e book in 1998 alleged sexual assaults.
Al Fayed died final 12 months aged 94.
Mr Blow left Harrods in 2007 to affix the Irish retailer Brown Thomas.
In 2013 he took up a publish with one other Fayed firm – this time as managing director of Turnbull and Asser, the shirt-maker with a Royal Warrant from Prince Charles.
It’s owned by the Fayed household and chaired by Ali Fayed, Mohamed’s brother, the place he stayed till 2017.
The BBC has been contacting as many former administrators of Harrods as doable to ask what they knew about Al Fayed’s behaviour and ask for his or her response to the BBC’s investigation.
One other former Harrods government, Andre Maeder, was not too long ago introduced as the brand new chief government of the division retailer Selfridges.
He told the BBC he was “horrified” to observe the documentary about Al Fayed, however added he “by no means noticed or heard something” about his “abhorrent” behaviour.