Mulberry chairman Godfrey Davis set to stand down after 35 years

Mulberry chairman Godfrey Davis will leave the board after 35 years and become ‘life president’.

Davis, 73, joined the luxury handbag maker in 1987 as finance director before becoming its chief executive in 2002. 

He has been Mulberry’s chairman for ten years, working with current chief executive Thierry Andretta since 2015. Andretta said Davis provided ‘sound counsel, direction and support’ to him and the board and said his contribution to the company was ‘outstanding’.

He will stand down as chairman and from the board on September 30 and take up the job of life president, continuing to offer his advice and expertise to the business. 

Davis said it was a ‘privilege’ to run the luxury brand.

He added that it is in a strong financial position moving forward. 

Throughout his tenure, Davis has been seen as a key driver of Mulberry, holding on to its British heritage while it pursues the lucrative luxury market abroad.

He will be replaced by another long-standing director, Chris Roberts, who has been on Mulberry’s board since 2002. 

Davis is also chairman of luxury hotel group Como Holdings, which is owned by the same family as Mulberry.

The handbag maker is 56 per cent-owned by Chalice Limited, the investment vehicle of Singapore billionaires Ong Beng Seng and Christina Ong. 

A further 37 per cent is owned by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group. Shares closed flat yesterday, however, at 280p.