Habitat Managing Director appointment

Habitat UK  |  Press release

Habitat, the iconic design-led home and furnishings brand has announced the appointment of Clare Askem, to a new role as Managing Director. Clare was previously Director of Strategic Development for Home Retail Group, the new owner of the Habitat's UK business.

As Managing Director, Clare will have overall accountability for the management of the Habitat UK business - including the three flagship stores in London's Tottenham Court Road, King's Road and Finchley Road, the Habitat website and the management of the Habitat brand within the Home Retail Group.

Home Retail Group acquired the exclusive use of the Habitat brand, its brand designs and intellectual property in the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as the three flagship London stores and UK website www.habitat.co.uk in June 2011.

Terry Duddy, Chief Executive of Home Retail Group said:
"Habitat, with its strong style-led heritage, is an important part of the Home Retail Group portfolio of brands. Clare has extensive retail and marketing experience and under her leadership we will continue to build the iconic Habitat brand, and in due course leverage it appropriately across the Group."

-ENDS-

Note to News Editors:
Chris Wermann, Director of Corporate Affairs, Home Retail Group 07718 327107

About Home Retail Group
Home Retail Group is the UK's leading home and general merchandise retailer with sales of £6 billion in the last financial year. It sells products under two distinctive and complementary retail brands, Argos and Homebase. The Group employs some 52,000 people across the business.

Argos is a unique retailer recognised for choice, value and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home from over 750 stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, online and over the telephone. In the financial year to February 2011, Argos sales were £4.2 billion.

Homebase is the UK's second largest home improvement retailer and is recognised for choice, style and customer service across the wider home enhancement market. It has more than 300 large, out-of-town stores, which sell over 30,000 products, as well as a growing internet offering at www.homebase.co.uk.

Argos and Homebase are supported by an in-house financial services business, Financial Services, which provides a range of credit and insurance products to their customers through all customer-facing channels of stores, online and over the phone. Financial Services is one of the largest store card providers in the UK, having over one million active store card customers.

Home Retail Group has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard which certifies that we have genuinely reduced our carbon footprint. We call our responsible approach 'the basis of good business'. Find out more at www.thebasisofgoodbusiness.co.uk

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