Alexei Cowan has been appointed to the newly created role of head of design for Wilko retail. Cowan will establish a dedicated product design capability within wilko retail focussing on trend interpretation and the development of desirable products specifically for wilko customers.

With more than 20 years’ experience of developing, designing and launching customer focused, new products, for leading global brands, Cowan’s last position was identifying and reporting on trends for the WGSN lifestyle & interior team. Prior to that she was Group Creative Director for a lifestyle design group which included brands Perch & Parrow, Gallery Direct and Endon Lighting.

Her previous roles include head of design for Home Retail Group (Sainsbury’s/ Argos/ Homebase) and senior designer for Next.

The head of design will report into executive managing director of Wilko retail, Andrew Moore. Commenting on the appointment, Moore said; “Putting great product at great prices at the centre of everything we do continues to be key to our strategic vision for growth and we’re committed to working harder and faster to deliver even more, desirable products, specifically for them.

“Alexei’s appointment will enable us to establish a stronger, more intuitive product focus through improving our customer offer based on insight and substantially reducing development lead times.”

Speaking about her new appointment, Cowan said: “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining wilko. There is a lot of love out there for wilko brand products and launching customer focused, innovative new products that simply help is my passion.”

Cowan starts on 2 December 2019.