British footwear retailer Clarks has appointed the management consultancy firm McKinsey to help with a transformation of the business. The appointment is part of a wider plan to grow the business’ underlying profitability and focuses on “renewing the relevance of the brand to consumers and partners. The brand aims to reconnect with its customers by designing iconic new products and launching an exciting new brand and marketing strategy that is already engaging consumers across the world. Its new strategy will allow the business to achieve sustainable levels of growth and profitability by 2023.
Clarks finance director Paul Kenyon has left the business and will be replaced by Philip de Klerk, former chief executive of materials maker Low & Bonar. In January, the retailer announced its United Kingdom factory in Street, Somerset could close after failing to meet manufacturing and cost targets.