
Dunelm’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick Wilkinson, has announced his intention to retire after leading the company for seven years. The news comes alongside the retailer’s latest financial results, in which it posted a 2.4% sales growth in the first half of the year. For the six months to 28 December, the retailer’s sales rose to £893.7 million from £872.5 million in the prior year, while pre-tax profit edged up 0.2% to £123.2 million.
Wilkinson has played a pivotal role in steering the business through numerous challenges, including the global pandemic, and has been instrumental in expanding Dunelm’s digital presence and strategic capabilities. Under his leadership, the company has successfully grown its customer base, improved market share, and enhanced its operations, which included an increased focus on technology and data.
Alison Brittain, Dunelm’s Chair, expressed high praise for Wilkinson’s leadership. “Nick has been a tremendous leader for Dunelm,” she said. “Amongst his many achievements, he has successfully guided the group through a global pandemic, driven a step-change in the digital offer, established strategic capabilities across the business including in tech and data, and maintained the unique, entrepreneurial culture which makes Dunelm so special.”
Dunelm's digital growth has been a key achievement under Nick Wilkinson's leadership, with online sales accounting for 39% of total sales, up from 36% last year. This shift highlights the increasing importance of e-commerce in the retailer’s strategy and reflects Wilkinson’s focus on enhancing Dunelm’s digital capabilities. During his tenure, the company not only attracted more customers and gained market share but also expanded its store network, all while maintaining stable pricing across its product range. Despite the challenging retail environment, Wilkinson's strategic vision has helped Dunelm remain resilient and achieve consistent growth.
As Wilkinson prepares to step down, Brittain confirmed that he will continue in his role while the company searches for a new CEO. “Nick will continue to lead the business over the coming months as we transition to a new CEO, maintaining a focus on delivering long-term, sustainable growth for all stakeholders” she added.
The announcement marks the end of an era for Dunelm, as the company looks ahead to a new chapter under fresh leadership.