Naked Wines has announced the departure of another director as the troubled retailer battles to revive its fortunes.
Yesterday (6 January 2023), the company told investors that non-executive director, Justin Apthorp, has stepped down from the board with immediate effect after 35 years at the group.
Apthorp’s resignation is the latest in a raft of directors and senior members leaving the company after a challenging 2022.
Last summer, Naked Wines CFO Shawn Tabak resigned from the company, while one of the company’s largest investors, Pratham Ravi, left in September after just three weeks in the job.
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Their departures followed the retailer announcing a string of job cuts, company spending and the replacement of its previous chairman in September.
It even bought back its founder Rowan Gormley as a board advisor ahead of the finalisation of a new commercial strategy.
Commenting on his departure, Aphorp said: “It has been a privilege to watch this business develop from a U.K.-centric, store-based retailer to an international online group leading the US direct-to-consumer wine market.
“I have every confidence in the company to continue to deliver its market-leading proposition for the benefit of wine drinkers, winemakers, employees and shareholders worldwide.”
Naked Wines chairman David Stead added: “I’d like to thank Justin for his dedicated service to the company, initially as an executive at Majestic Wine, then through his non-executive role as we reshaped the group and delivered significant growth through the pandemic. I wish him all the best for the future.”
