NEXT plc has announced a number of changes to its board. These include the appointment of two new independent non-executive directors: Annette Court and Jeni Mundy, with effect from 1 March 2026 and 1 April 2026 respectively. Both will become members of the nomination, audit and remuneration committees.

From 21 May, Court will be appointed as senior independent director, in light of the retirement from the board of Jonathan Bewes, senior independent director and chair of the audit committee. The position of auditco chair will be filled by Soumen Das from 21 May.

Court is an experienced FTSE100 and FTSE250 chair and NED. She has been chair of WH Smith plc since 2022 and senior independent director of Sage Group plc since 2024, having joined the board in 2019. She is a former chair of Admiral Group plc.

In her executive career, Court was CEO of Europe General Insurance for Zurich Financial Services from 2007 to 2010 and CEO of Direct Line Group (formerly RBS Insurance) from 2001 to 2006.

Jeni Mundy brings strong expertise in digital, innovation, IT and commercial acumen to the NEXT board. She was non-executive director and chair of the corporate responsibility committee at Auto Trader plc from 2016 to 2025. In her executive career, Mundy held senior corporate roles at Visa Inc. from 2018 to 2025 and Vodafone plc from 1994 to 2017.

NEXT also revealed that Jane Shields, group sales, marketing and HR director, would step down from its executive board with effect from 21 May 2026. Most of her operational remit will be covered by Matt Barnes, online customer service director, who will be promoted to the role of group sales and marketing director, although will not be joining the board at this stage.