Stephen is chair of Retail Economics, non-executive director of Timpson Group and a member of the University of Bristol board of trustees.

Stephen’s career started in consumer businesses – Unilever, Mars Inc, Mattel. Stephen then jumped into retail as marketing director B&Q before leading the acquisition of Screwfix Direct. Subsequently, he was appointed director general of British Retail Consortium.

Previously, he has been a non-executive board member at: Hargreaves Lansdown plc (consumer financial services), Clipper Retail Logistics plc, Fresca Group (fresh produce supplier), Sofology (furniture retailer) and Footasylum plc (fashion retail).

He is a former chairman of the Marketing Society, fellow of Royal Society of Arts, and a member Emeritus of the Marketing Group of Great Britain.