Country Road is scrapping the managing director role in favour of a new leadership model, with current MD Helen Wright set to exit the business.
A Country Road Group spokesperson told Ragtrader that the Country Road brand has introduced two new roles – a chief product officer and a general manager of apparel and accessories. This comes amid an evolving operating model, as the brand enters the next phase of its strategy, including a clear focus on product and elevating brand leadership.
“As part of this change, the role of managing director, Country Road has been made redundant, and Helen Wright will be leaving the group,” the spokesperson confirmed.
“We thank Helen for her excellent contribution over the past 18 months in resetting the brand strategy and building strong foundations for the next phase.”
Wright added that leading the Country Road brand has been a "true privilege".
"Together, we have delivered meaningful transformation across the business, strengthened the brand and achieved measurable improvements across our key performance measures," Wright said. "I leave with enormous pride in what the team has accomplished and great confidence in Country Road's future."
As part of the move, Shani Delargy has been appointed as GM of apparel and accessories, and further updates on the chief product officer role will be shared in due course, with group CEO Steven Cook leading the Country Road business in the interim.
Wright has been at the helm of Country Road since March 2025, having moved over from Italian footwear brand Sergio Rossi, where she was group CEO since late 2023. She also held a board role at Frasers Group in that time.
In her long-running career, Wright has held other leadership roles at the likes of Bloch International, Belstaff, Anya Hindmarch, Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi, Bamford and Ralph Lauren.
Shani Delargy, the new GM of apparel and accessories, is a former director at Debenhams, where she held roles for a total of 18 years, with seven years as a buying manager, and another 10 and a half years as a head buyer and a trade director.
She was also head buyer at Boden in the UK, and a buying director at River Island.