Iceland has appointed Paul Foley to its operating board in the new role of international business director. He is charged with identifying and exploiting opportunities to expand the brand worldwide.
He will take responsibility for Iceland’s established and flourishing ITEX export business and its new retail operation in the Czech Republic and will be based at the ITEX office in Vienna.
Foley will report directly to Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker. The new appointment marks a return to the fold for Foley, who began his retail career with Bejam as a management trainee in 1976 where he made a significant contribution to the integration of the business with Iceland when the latter acquired Bejam in 1989.
Foley left the same year to join the start-up of Aldi in the UK as sales director before rising to become group managing director for the UK and Ireland. Three years ago he left to set up his own retail consultancy and will fulfill his commitments with clients before joining Iceland in January next year.
Walker said: “I was very sorry to lose Paul in 1989. It has not been easy to persuade him to come back and work for us, and I am absolutely delighted that he has agreed to do so.
“His exceptional track record and skill set make him the ideal person to lead Iceland’s development outside the UK, whether that be through exports, franchising, acquisitions or store openings.
The global potential of the Iceland brand is huge and I am very excited by the many opportunities that Paul’s appointment will help to open up.”
