Former JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD.) boss Peter Cowgill has been named non-executive chairman of The Fragrance Shop, his first role since leaving the FTSE 100 retailer in June this year.
Cowgill will take his position immediately, providing support to the management of the perfume and aftershave company in its growth plan.
“I feel very privileged to take on this role at an exciting time for the business as it continues to execute its growth strategy,” said Cowgill in the Retail Gazette.
“Against the post-pandemic backdrop and current economic headwinds, The Fragrance Shop continues to perform because of its focus on innovation and ensuring it puts the customer and its members at the heart of everything it does," he added.
Cowgill’s 18 years at JD Sports was highly successful, increasing the share price by 5,800% and growing revenues from £472mln in his first year to £8.5bn in his last.
Despite impressive financials, his time as boss was not without drama.
Indeed, the group's preliminary results released shortly after he left the company mentioned the word governance no less than 23 times.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was undoubtedly the Footasylum debacle, with Cowgill holding secret meetings with his counterpart Barry Brown amid a takeover attempt.
JD was slapped with a £4.3mln fine from the Competition and Markets Authority as a result, and Cowgill, not long after, left the company.