The CEO of Debenhams Group has provided an upbeat assessment of the retail giant’s turnaround strategy.
Daniel Finley also said the company remained committed to PrettyLittleThing after a reversal in the brand’s fortunes.
Last week, Finley joined Boohoo co-founder Mahmud Kamani and outgoing director Iain McDonald in taking part in the £40m fundraise.
He said: “The momentum is real. This isn’t just about capital. It’s about confidence – in our turnaround strategy, our performance and where we’re heading next.
“Our marketplace model is scaling. Our brands are profitable. The direction is clear.
“And for customers, that means one thing: a better way to shop.
“With this investment, we can accelerate the shift to a marketplace model – onboarding more of the brands customers love, expanding choice and delivering even better value, all in one place.”
Online retail giant Boohoo Group rebranded as Debenhams Group in 2025 and its brands include Debenhams, Karen Millen, boohoo, MAN and PLT.
Finley added: “We’re also doubling down on technology and AI to make the shopping experience simpler and even more personal.
“Just this week, we became the first UK retailer to enable customers to discover products, receive personalised recommendations and checkout entirely within the PayPal app.
“This funding gives us the firepower to go further – strengthening partnerships, improving discovery and refining every step of the customer journey.
“Less friction. More convenience. Shopping that feels effortless.
“There’s still plenty to do – there always is. But the model is working.
“As the transformation deepens, we’ll continue to provide clear, detailed updates so our stakeholders can see the progress and value being built.
“Thank you to everyone across the Group whose hard work has helped us reach this milestone.
Raising the bar
“Now, we keep building. We keep scaling. And we keep raising the bar.”
Dan originally joined the group as CEO of Debenhams in January 2022, following the acquisition of the brand out of administration for £55m, and was appointed group CEO on November 1st, 2024.
Before joining Debenhams, he spent a decade as group multi channel director at JD Sports.