Founded in 1897 in Brixton, South London, Morley’s is one of the UK's largest independent department store groups with eight independently run stores , remaining proudly family-owned over 125 years later. Its stores - spanning Greater London and beyond - cover fashion, beauty, home, and lifestyle, each retaining its own local identity and heritage.
The business required a commercially driven, qualified finance leader – ideally ACA, CIMA or ACCA – with demonstrable experience in a standalone, profitable retail environment. The successful candidate needed to oversee financial controls, manage banking and PE relationships, lead the annual audit, and drive exit readiness through up-to-date data room management and vendor due diligence. A track record of navigating acquisitions and supporting strategic exit conversations was essential, alongside strong board-level communication skills.
Leveraging our established network across retail, brand, and supply chain at C-suite level, our consultants – each with first-hand sector experience – mapped the market for finance professionals with relevant departmental expertise who were ready for the next step in their career. We focused on individuals operating as Finance Directors or senior finance leads within comparable retail or consumer businesses, with a particular emphasis on candidates who had navigated PE-backed or leveraged environments and demonstrated the analytical rigour and entrepreneurial mindset Morleys required.
V&C Associates successfully identified and placed a highly accomplished CFO candidate – a proven finance leader with strong departmental experience who was actively seeking progression to a group-level executive role. The appointed candidate brought the commercial acumen, PE experience, and collaborative leadership style the business demanded, and was well positioned to support Morleys through its next phase of growth. This assignment further demonstrated V&C’s ability to deliver at the highest level, providing our clients with access to talent that is not visible through conventional recruitment channels.