Ex-Harrods director won't take top job at Fenwick

A long-serving erstwhile Harrods executive, has decided not to go the brag of section store Fenwick contempt being owed to commencement this month, the BBC has learned.

Nigel Blow worked astatine Harrods for 14 years from 1992 to 2007, a play erstwhile the luxury London store was owned by Mohamed Al Fayed.

It comes aft the BBC broadcast a documentary past period based connected the accounts of much than 20 women who said they had been sexually assaulted oregon raped by Al Fayed portion moving astatine Harrods.

Following the allegations against Al Fayed, Mr Blow declined to reply aggregate requests for comment. A time aft contacting Fenwick, however, the BBC was told helium would nary longer beryllium taking the role.

The BBC archetypal attempted to interaction Mr Blow connected 21 September - and received nary effect to aggregate consequent requests.

On 30 September Fenwick was contacted to inquire if it had immoderate remark to marque astir the documentary and Mr Blow's long-standing links with Harrods.

About 24 hours later, Fenwick told the BBC: "Nigel Blow has informed america that helium volition nary longer beryllium taking up this position."

No crushed for the determination has been given.

Fenwick is champion known for its 140-year-old store successful Newcastle, and has 8 stores astir the UK. It closed its subdivision connected Bond Street successful London earlier this year.

Mr Blow has been the main enforcement of the privately-owned section store concatenation Morleys since 2019.

The BBC was told "no comment" erstwhile it called Morleys connected Tuesday to inquire if Mr Blow would clasp his presumption astatine the firm. He is inactive listed arsenic main enforcement of Morleys connected the LinkedIn societal networking site.

He joined Harrods arsenic a merchandise controller successful 1992, rising to main merchant of the store, with a spot connected the board, successful 2003.

There were media reports of Al Fayed's alleged maltreatment of women during this play - a illustration successful Vanity Fair successful 1995 alleged intersexual misconduct against staff, past a documentary successful 1997 and a publication successful 1998 alleged intersexual assaults.

Al Fayed died past twelvemonth aged 94.

Mr Blow near Harrods successful 2007 to articulation the Irish retailer Brown Thomas.

In 2013 helium took up a station with different Fayed institution - this clip arsenic managing manager of Turnbull and Asser, the shirt-maker with a Royal Warrant from Prince Charles.

It is owned by the Fayed household and chaired by Ali Fayed, Mohamed’s brother, wherever helium stayed until 2017.

The BBC has been contacting arsenic galore erstwhile directors of Harrods arsenic imaginable to inquire what they knew astir Al Fayed's behaviour and inquire for their absorption to the BBC's investigation.

Another erstwhile Harrods executive, Andre Maeder, was precocious announced arsenic the caller main enforcement of the section store Selfridges.

He told the BBC helium was "horrified" to ticker the documentary astir Al Fayed, but added helium "never saw oregon heard anything" astir his "abhorrent" behaviour.