LONDON: Dunelm Group plc, the UK’s leading homewares retailer, announced Monday the appointment of Clodagh “Clo” Moriarty as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Oct. 1, 2025.
Moriarty will succeed Nick Wilkinson, who previously informed the board of his intention to retire after seven years at the helm. Wilkinson will remain in his role through September to ensure a smooth transition and will step down from the board at the end of that month before officially departing the business in early October.
The appointment follows a comprehensive recruitment process that considered b woth internal and external candidates, supported by an independent executive search firm.
Moriarty currently serves as Chief Retail and Technology Officer at J Sainsbury plc, where she oversees store operations, digital strategy, customer experience, and technology platforms. A member of Sainsbury’s Operating Board, she has spent 15 years with the company in various leadership roles. Prior to that, she worked for nine years at Bain & Company.
“We are thrilled to be appointing Clo as our new CEO,” said Alison Brittain, Chair of Dunelm. “She is a proven industry leader and brings an impressive range of skills and experience from one of the UK’s largest retailers. Clo was the standout candidate from a strong field, and we are delighted to have attracted such a high-caliber executive.”
Brittain added that Moriarty’s blend of retail, digital, and strategic expertise would be instrumental as Dunelm enters its next phase of growth.
Moriarty expressed enthusiasm about her new role, calling the opportunity “a real privilege.”
“Dunelm is a fantastic business which I have followed and admired for many years,” she said. “Even from the outside, its values, purpose and culture are plain to see. Nick and the team have done an incredible job growing the business, and we have an amazing platform to build from. I can’t wait to get started.”
Wilkinson’s tenure saw significant expansion of Dunelm’s digital and physical retail channels, positioning the company as a leader in the UK homewares market.