Matalan has appointed retail veteran Ruth Golightly as its new Head of Buying for Childrenswear, bringing significant expertise to the value retailer. Golightly’s hire is the latest move in Matalan’s ongoing transformation plan to strengthen its product leadership team, ensuring its core family fashion offering remains competitive. The appointment was confirmed this week, closely following the announcement that former H&M executive Henrik Nordvall will join as Chief Executive in February 2026.
Golightly joins Matalan after a three-year stint as a senior director at Blues Group, but her crucial experience was honed during a comprehensive 16-year career at George at Asda. During her time there, she held several senior roles, including Head of Womenswear and Head of Baby and Maternity. This extensive background provides the new Matalan Head of Childrenswear with an unparalleled understanding of the high-volume, family value market.
The recruitment signals Matalan’s commitment to growing market share in key apparel categories, particularly childrenswear, which is a crucial driver of footfall and loyalty for the business. Golightly officially took up her position in September and has already expressed enthusiasm for her first month with the retailer. Her hire complements a series of recent senior appointments made across trading, marketing, and design.
With new leadership in place across the executive suite, Matalan is clearly focusing its efforts on product quality and commercial strategy. The addition of Golightly as the Matalan Head of Childrenswear is expected to immediately impact the design, value, and performance of one of the brand’s most important and dependable product lines.
