LONDON — In a season of surprises in C-suites and design studios across Europe, WWD has learned that Andrew Keith is leaving as chief executive officer at Selfridges.

Keith, who joined Selfridges as managing director in 2020 and pushed Selfridges’ ambitious green agenda, will leave the store in the autumn.

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His tenure was certainly eventful, encompassing COVID-related lockdown and travel restrictions, the sale of Selfridges, the bankruptcy of its co-owner Signa, and a round of layoffs announced earlier this year.

According to an internal memo seen by WWD, Keith is leaving of his own accord, and plans to pursue new ventures. André Maeder, CEO of Selfridges Group, will take over his responsibilities.

The group comprises Selfridges in the U.K., De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, and Brown Thomas Arnotts in Ireland.

Tos Chirathivat, chairman of Selfridges Group and executive chairman and CEO of Central Group, which co-owns Selfridges, said the company was “grateful to Andrew for his contribution to the success of our iconic U.K. business. He has been an invaluable member of the Selfridges team, leading the business out of the COVID lockdowns and through its acquisition in 2022.

“The launch of the Selfridges Strategy under Andrew’s leadership has resulted in many new customer innovations and enhancements. He has also been instrumental in helping to drive and champion the brand’s creative expression through a roster of world-leading collaborations and thought-provoking campaigns. We thank Andrew for his hard work and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors,” Chirathivat added.

Keith said it was “an honor to lead Selfridges over the past few years. From my first day I have sought to build on its amazing reputation as a creative, inspiring destination where everyone is welcome. However, I feel that now is an appropriate time to leave the business and pursue new ventures. I am proud to be leaving Selfridges in such a strong position and to pass the baton to André to continue this journey with our great team.”

Maeder, a retail veteran, said he was looking forward to working with the Selfridges team. “We will focus our efforts on innovation, enhancing customer experiences, and maintaining the exceptional quality that defines our legacy. Together, we will ensure that our brand continues to set the standard in the industry, providing the unrivalled offering Selfridges is renowned for.”