JD Sports Fashion PLC (LON:JD. has rebutted reports it is looking for a successor to executive chairman and chief executive Peter Cowgill.
In a statement, the trainers and athleisure retailer said: “JD can confirm to both investors and to its international brand partners that the board is not engaged in a process to recruit a Chief Executive Officer or Chairman.
“JD can also confirm that it is continually reviewing the depth of its management team to ensure that the senior operational leadership team in the business has the necessary skills and experience to exploit the ongoing global development opportunities.”
A report over the weekend had noted the annual report had mentioned concerns about Cowgill holding both the CEO and chairman’s roles.
Cowgill, who became CEO as well as chairman in 2014, told The Times that he was not going anywhere.
JD added it would also hold a second capital markets day in October that would be led by its senior operational team to demonstrate the depth “of expertise within that team to investors and analysts”.
Cowgill added: "In conjunction with the senior leadership team, I look forward to welcoming investors and analysts to our second Capital Markets Day and to sharing our strategy and execution plans for the further development of JD over the forthcoming years."