Biography
Mark Derbyshire is the former president of Holt Renfrew, Canada’s top department store. He was a key executive in Galen Weston’s Wittington Investments, which owns the department store as part of a portfolio that also includes Selfridges in London and Brown Thomas in Dublin.
In September 2016, Derbyshire stepped down from the retailer, with Mario Grauso named his successor. He went on to become an independent consultant and continues to sit on the board of directors for Canadian Tire Corporation, a position he has held since May 2016.
Under his leadership, Holt Renfrew saw the opening of its first discount HR2 store, acquired Oglivy and consistently ranked among Deloitte's list of "Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies," earning it platinum status from the consultancy firm. Prior to his appointment to the helm of the department store, Derbyshire concurrently held the roles of chief talent officer of Wittington Fashion Retail Group and vice president of Wittington Investments. Discussing his role, Derbyshire said, "It's not just about employing the best people, it's about building the best teams that provide our customers with unparalleled service." He has a proven track record in doing just that, notably increasing profitability at Selfridges and Brown Thomas.
Derbyshire was also Holt Renfrew’s vice president of human resources between 2004 and 2007, prior to which he worked in operation planning, marketing and branding, in a career that has spanned almost two decades.
He holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Management, and a Ph.D. in Organisational Behaviour. In 2009, Derbyshire was named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40.