"Andy (…) stood out as the best candidate with his extensive Board experience including as a Chair and his strong track record in the international retail sector. It is a testament to the quality and attractiveness of JD that we have recruited Andy to the important role of Chair. JD is a great business with a clear strategy, occupying a unique place in the market, and we look forward to working with him on our global development opportunities", commented Helen Ashton, interim Chair.

Higginson has over 28 years of continuous non-executive director experience on PLC boards, including senior leadership roles for almost 15 years at Tesco. He was Chair of William Morrison Supermarkets from January 2015 through November 2021, when the private equity firm CD&R LLP bought the business. According to JD Sports’ statement, during that time, the newly appointed chair "oversaw a major turnaround of the business and significant value realization for shareholders". He is also currently Senior Independent Director at Flutter.

"Having closely followed JD's success over the years, I see it as an exceptional business, with a strong strategic position. The Board has clearly been addressing its governance and risk management structure, and I very much look forward to working with the Board and the senior management team, including our new CEO once appointed, to bring my experience to bear and capitalize on the strength of the brands, market positions and channels to market including the global retail store network”, stated the elected Chair.

Andrew Higginson will replace Peter Cowgill, who stepped down last May, following an ongoing review of JD Sports' internal governance and controls that resulted in the need of speeding up the separation of the roles of Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).