DUBLIN — High street clothing brand Primark has appointed Alice Macandrew to the newly-created position of corporate affairs director, as it looks to international expansion.

Macandrew’s remit is to develop a global corporate affairs team and strategy, and will be responsible for all internal and external corporate communications at the form, working with the leadership team and Primark’s parent company ABF.

A former Finsbury partner, Macandrew was group director for corporate affairs and communications for Thomas Cook from 2015 to 2019, when the travel business went bust and made its entire 50-strong UK marketing team redundant.

Previously, Macandrew was group director for corporate communications at Sky, and also led corporate communications at News Corporation from 2009 to 2011. She has spent the last year working for Elisabeth Murdoch, leading on communications and strategy for independent studio Sister and the Freelands Foundation.

Fast-fashion retailer Primark was founded in Ireland in 1969. It has 350 stores worldwide, with international expansion a priority. It does not sell online, which has proved something of a challenge during pandemic lockdowns; the firm lost £800 million between March and June last year. However, every time shopping restrictions ease, there are queues around the block for the store beloved of teenagers, and the store has so far announced no plans to change its business model. 

Primark CEO Paul Marchant said: “As we look towards the future and our continued international growth ambition, building trust and relationships with all of our stakeholders and customers has never been so important. I am delighted to welcome Alice to Primark and am confident that her leadership, experience and insight will be pivotal to placing Corporate Affairs at the heart of our business.”

Macandrew added: “The upheavals of the past year have shown just how much customers love the Primark brand. I’m thrilled to be joining Paul and the team to work with our valued suppliers, employees and partners to bring more customers more amazing fashion at the prices they love on high streets around the world.”