Veteran Mulberry chairman Davis to step down, successor will be Chris Roberts

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Aug 23, 2022

Luxury bag specialist Mulberry Group said on Tuesday that non-executive chairman Godfrey Davis intends to step down from the board on 30 September.

It’s a big deal for the firm as he’s been with it since 1987, having joined originally as finance director, before becoming its chief executive and then moving on to the chairman’s role.

However, after 35 years at the brand, he won’t be cutting his ties completely and Mulberry said that he’ll remain associated with it “as life president in a non-board role to continue to allow the group to benefit from his extensive experience”.

The directors also said they’d “like to put on record [their] thanks for the outstanding contribution that Godfrey Davis has made to the group”.

The company already has a new non-executive chairman waiting in the wings who’s closely linked to the majority owners of the company. Andrew Christopher ‘Chris’ Roberts, currently a non-exec director, is set to step in as Davis leaves.

He’s a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and was appointed to the board only in June. He has a “broad experience of international property markets, the branded luxury hospitality sector and global financial markets and is currently managing director of Como Holdings (UK) Ltd”. This is a company ultimately owned by Ong Beng Seng and Christina Ong, who also ultimately own Chalice Limited, a 56.2% shareholder in Mulberry. 

Davis said: “It has been a privilege to hold the position of chairman of this iconic British luxury brand. Over the past decade Mulberry has continued to innovate and thrive, resonating with a growing global consumer base that desires sustainable, quality craftsmanship.  

“The business is in a strong financial position and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues and the whole team at Mulberry for their support over the years.”