Finance
Britain's Jd Sports Says Chairman Higginson to Step Down
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 22, 2026
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JD Sports’ chairman Andrew Higginson—appointed in July 2022—will step down following the annual general meeting on 21 July 2026. Independent director Darren Shapland will serve as interim chair while a permanent successor is sought.
JD Sports Announces Chairman Andrew Higginson to Step Down in July 2024
Leadership Transition and Company Performance at JD Sports
Andrew Higginson’s Tenure and Departure
LONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - British sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion said on Wednesday its chairman Andrew Higginson will step down from the role in July.
Higginson has chaired the group since 2022. He will leave after its annual shareholders meeting on July 21.
Higginson’s Impact on JD Sports
Higginson, a retail veteran who was a long serving executive at Tesco before chairing Morrisons, oversaw the global expansion of JD Sports with about 40% of its business now in the United States. He also transformed its governance framework.
Market Reaction and Analyst Commentary
Analysts said his imminent departure was a surprise.
Succession Plans and Interim Leadership
JD Sports said its board has started the process to find a successor.
It said independent non-executive director Darren Shapland will become interim chair following the July AGM until a permanent chair is appointed.
Recent Company Performance
In January, JD Sports reported a fall in underlying sales over the key Christmas trading period. Its shares are down 9.5% so far this year, giving it a market capitalisation of 3.7 billion pounds ($5.0 billion).
($1 = 0.7396 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Muvija M and Louise Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Andrew Higginson, who modernised governance and expanded JD’s U.S. presence (now ~40% of business), to step down after July 21 AGM (directorstalkinterviews.com)
- •Darren Shapland, an independent non‑executive director since June 2023 and ESG committee chair, will be interim chair until a new permanent chair is appointed (directorstalkinterviews.com)
- •JD Sports shares have struggled this year, down in value with market cap around £3.7 billion and forward P/E near 7×—reflecting investor concerns amid weak trading (uk.finance.yahoo.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Britain's JD Sports says chairman Higginson to step down
1When will JD Sports chairman Andrew Higginson step down?
Andrew Higginson will step down as chairman in July, after the annual shareholders meeting on July 21, 2024.
2Who will serve as interim chair after Higginson steps down?
Independent non-executive director Darren Shapland will become interim chair following the July AGM until a permanent chair is appointed.
3How long has Andrew Higginson chaired JD Sports?
Andrew Higginson has chaired JD Sports since 2022.
4What major changes did Andrew Higginson oversee at JD Sports?
Higginson oversaw the group's global expansion, with about 40% of business now in the US, and transformed its governance framework.
5How have JD Sports' shares performed in 2024?
JD Sports shares are down 9.5% so far in 2024.
