Harding Retail names James Prescott as Buying and Merchandising Director

Harding Retail is delighted to announce that James Prescott will be joining as its new Buying and Merchandising Director. Currently General Manager Operations Middle East with Aer Rianta International, James will join Harding Retail at the beginning of March 2014 and will relocate from Bahrain where he has been based since 2008.

James has enjoyed an extensive career in travel retail, originally working at Allders before moving to World Duty Free as Head of Category – Liquor, Tobacco, Food, Tax Free and Luxury Goods. In 2006 he joined Whyte & Mackay as Global Travel Retail Director before moving to his position with ARI-ME whose turnover is close to $1bn.

Says James Prescott: “After six great years in the Middle East, it was going to take something really special to pull me away, but as soon as I spoke to Neil, Harold and the team at Harding Retail it was clear that the scale of ambition and opportunity within the business, combined with their truly entrepreneurial spirit was too good an opportunity to resist. I am very excited about working with the team, and helping turn that ambition and opportunity into reality.”

“James was the stand out candidate from a very strong shortlist, with a very impressive background and the level of commitment and drive that we require here at Harding Retail,” adds Managing Director Harding Retail, Harold Gittelmon. “James is joining Harding Retail at a very exciting time for the company. Alongside our new name and branding, we’re moving towards a much more consumer-focussed retail approach – where the customer is at the centre of everything we do. With his deep understanding of brands and experience from two of the world’s most dynamic travel retailers, James could not be a better choice for the future development of our business.”