Sports Direct Inc., the U.K. sporting goods chain, said Chris Bulmer,
it's senior non-executive director, had resigned. It named two others
to the board.
The two new directors are Malcolm Dalgleish, a retail property agent
who heads up CB Richard Ellis's Europe, Middle East and Africa business
and Dave Singleton, the former head of Europe Middle East and Africa
for Reebok. Singleton stepped down from Reebok this spring following
the firm's acquisition by German sports brand Adidas.
Bulmer's departure is believed to have been prompted by Sports Direct's
failure to conform to corporate governance norms. According to Retail Week,
the U.K. trade magazine, she is understood to have written to Sports
Direct's board on Tuesday laying out her criticisms and particular
concerns about a lack of progress in appointing a chairman.
Bulmer is the second director to quit since Sports Direct's initial
public offering in February. Former chairman David Richardson, who
joined Sports Direct ahead of flotation, quit in May after a fall out
with founder Mike Ashley.
Sports Direct owns the Sports World sports discount chain in London, as
well as the Lillywhites store in Piccadilly, London. It recently
acquired Everlast, and owns full ownership or majority control in the
following brands: Antigua, Carlton, Donnay, Dunlop, Kangol,
Karrimor, Lillywhites, Lonsdale, No Fear, Slazenger and Voodoo
Dolls.
