As fashion non-executive appointments go, this is a heavyweight addition. Very Group has appointed former Matches and ASOS chief exec Nick Beighton to its board.

The Very and Littlewoods brands owner said Beighton will join as a representative of global investment firm Carlyle Group, which provided £85 million in funding to the group earlier this year.

He’s joined by consultant Paul O’Donnell, who’s a representative of international investment company IMI, the other half of the £125 million funding package the digital retailer also secured this year.

Beighton is currently the non-executive chair of online designer marketplace Secret Sales and non-exec at online fashion retailer Lookiero and heritage clothing brand Raging Bull.

He stepped down as chief executive of Matches in March shortly after new owner Frasers Group put it into administration. Before that, he was the boss of online fashion giant ASOS, leaving in 2021, having overseen revenue growth to £3.9 billion. Earlier, he was head of finance at Matalan.

O’Donnell has over 20 years’ M&A and corporate finance experience, serving as an advisor to public and private companies, as well as private equity funds.

Both appointments come as non-exec Mark McMenemy retires from the retailer’s board.

Very Group non-executive chair Nadhim Zahawi said of the appointments: “Both bring a wide network of relationships, as well as leading expertise and unrivalled experience in helping ambitious businesses develop and grow.

“Their contributions will be invaluable and I look forward to working with them.”