Tom Athron is new Walpole chair as Michael Ward becomes president emeritus

Walpole has named Fortnum & Mason CEO Tom Athron as its new chair, succeeding Harrods MD Michael Ward who moves to a new advisory role.

The body that represents British luxury brands said Ward steps down “after serving the maximum tenure of nine successful years as chair” but clearly isn’t cutting his close ties to the group as he takes on a newly created advisory role as president emeritus.

Athron has led luxury-foods-focused Fortnum & Mason since December 2020 and before that was COO at Matchesfashion. He also spent 13 years at the John Lewis Partnership. One of his roles there was group development director on the main board, founding its innovation arm, JLP Ventures. 

He takes up his additional job this week and said it’s a “privilege” to take on a task to “promote, protect, and develop the British luxury sector, both in the UK and internationally”.

Meanwhile, Ward added: “Over what has been an exceptionally turbulent nine years for business, I am incredibly proud of the role Walpole has played in shaping public perceptions of British luxury and in championing the sector. Thanks to this work, our industry is now well positioned for continued recognition and growth. My warmest congratulations to Tom, I am delighted he has agreed to take on the role of chair and sincere thanks also go to Walpole’s board and to [CEO Helen Brocklebank]. I am honoured to become president emeritus and to continue supporting the upward trajectory of both Walpole and the sector as a whole.”

Ward also remains president of the European Creative and Cultural Industries Alliance (ECCIA), the group that brings together all the European luxury associations under one umbrella. That role runs until January 2026 when Walpole’s two-year rolling presidency ends.