Asos boss exits as firm warns profits to plunge (2024)

  • Published

Asos boss exits as firm warns profits to plunge (1)Image source, Asos

Asos has announced its chief executive is leaving with immediate effect as the online fashion giant warned that rising costs are set to hit its profits.

Nick Beighton is stepping down after six years in the role and the day-to-day running of the firm will be taken over by Asos' finance chief.

Asos also cautioned that next year's profits could fall by as much as 40%.

The company had benefited from lower rates of people returning clothing during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Asos said this had resulted in £67.3m of cost savings, but it said that the levels of returns were now normalising.

Profits are also likely to be affected by increased freight costs, Brexit duty, outbound delivery costs and higher wages.

While adjusted pre-tax profit rose 36% to £193.6m for the 12 months to 31 August, Asos now expects this figure to fall to between £110m and £140m next year.

Asos's share price tumbled by 15% in early trading before regaining a little ground. Its share price is down 42% since the beginning of 2021.

The warning of lower future profits overshadowed its results for the year to 31 August, which showed sales rose 22% to £3.9bn.

Returns

Asos said it had attracted another 1.4 million customers over the past year as people turned to online shopping amid lockdowns.

Throughout the period leisurewear became more popular, and this added to profits as it is less likely to be returned than more formal clothes.

Asos said returns were already normalising, adding that the new customers it attracted in the last year were more likely to send clothes back.

"Asos has enjoyed a huge boost to trading over lockdowns, albeit for less-lucrative casual wear as its core demographic was stuck at home," said Sophie Lund-Yates, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

"A reluctance to leave the house meant return rates were lower, resulting in XL margins. However, the tailwinds are easing and the Asos bubble has burst."

Asos also set out changes at the top of the business to "deliver next phase of global growth".

It said Mr Beighton "and the board have agreed that now is the right time for him to step down" as chief executive. A search for his replacement is under way but in the meantime chief financial officer Mat Dunn will oversee the day-to-day running of the business.

Image source, Asos

The company's chairman, Adam Crozier - who will also be leaving Asos shortly to become chairman of BT - said the firm had a new five-year strategy and Mr Beighton had not wanted to stay for at least half of that so it was better to make the change now.

"Asos's management and board have spent considerable time over recent months developing and validating a clear strategic plan to accelerate international growth, building on Asos's undoubted strength in the UK," he said.

"Key to that is ensuring that we have the right leadership in place for the next phase, and the changes we are announcing today are designed to ensure we deliver against our clear strategic intent."

Asos has been one of the big winners in this pandemic as people turned to online shopping during lockdowns. But it's facing the same supply chain problems as everyone else in retail including a host of increasing costs - from pay for warehouse workers to the shipping of containers of clothes from the far east, which is likely to put a huge dent in its profits for next year.

Getting the right products at the right time is also challenging. And shoppers are now settling back into to old habits when it comes to returns.

Younger online shoppers often order multiple products and send back those they don't want. But last year it saw fewer returns as its customers switched to less fitted items like leggings and hoodies.

But those charges are now starting to normalise along with overall sales. Asos has outlined ambitious plans for expansion over the next three years but that will be without its chief executive Nick Beighton who's leaving with immediate effect - a surprise announcement after 12 years with the business.

Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics said Mr Beighton's departure had come as "huge surprise" and Asos was "losing someone that has been instrumental to its success over the last decade".

"The share price has been under recent pressure reflecting the challenges of delivering stellar levels of growth in a more hostile environment and tough comparisons from last year.

"Supply chain disruptions, fierce competitor dynamics and an intense focus on sustainability have created a more challenging outlook for the business over the coming years and seemingly resulted in a big boardroom shakeup."

Mr Beighton, who has been with Asos for 12 years in total, said in a statement he had enjoyed "every moment" of his time at the firm.

He said when he joined Asos had fewer than 200 people and sales of £220m, turnover was now almost £4bn selling to 26 million customers in 200 countries.

Asos boss exits as firm warns profits to plunge (2024)

FAQs

Why is ASOS CEO leaving? ›

Nick Beighton, the chief executive of Asos, is leaving with immediate effect as the online fashion retailer warned supply chain problems and rising costs would affect its profits. Asos said Beighton and the board had agreed it was “the right time” for him to go.

What is the profit warning ASOS? ›

Asos is having a difficult year and issued a profit warning in June as the cost-of-living crisis sapped consumers' spending power. The company had already warned in April that its earnings goal was at risk from inflation and disruption from the war in Ukraine.

What is the downfall of ASOS? ›

“A key failure was the marketing and capital allocation mismatch between the regions and the commercial model's heavy reliance on discounting in the past. Asos' management will have to prove it can deliver on the transformation. Until then, there is insufficient visibility to revise the outlook.”

How many people use ASOS? ›

It is reported to have an incredible 26.4 million active ASOS customers worldwide.

Who is ASOS CEO now? ›

Fixing ASOS: New CEO José Antonio Ramos Calamonte lays out his plan - TheIndustry. fashion.

Who is the new CFO of ASOS? ›

ASOS names Sean Glithero as new CFO.

What triggers a profit warning? ›

Profit warning occurs when a company advises shareholders and the public that its earnings results will not meet analyst expectations. A company generally issues a profit warning prior to the public announcement of its official earnings results.

What happens when a company issues a profit warning? ›

A profit warning is a warning declaration issued by a listed company to investors through a stock exchange. It warns investors that the profit of the company in the coming quarter will significantly decline when compared with that of the same quarter of previous year, or the company may even make a loss.

What is a surprise profit warning? ›

Companies sometimes make public announcements that their earnings may not meet internal projections or analysts' estimates. These announcements are called profit warnings. TheStreet Staff. Updated: Oct 5, 2022 12:28 PM EDT.

Who is ASOS biggest competitor? ›

asos.com's top 5 competitors in January 2023 are: zara.com, urbanoutfitters.com, next.co.uk, boohoo.com, and more. According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, asos.com's top competitor in February 2023 is zara.com with 78.5M visits.

What has happened to ASOS profits this year? ›

Online fashion retailer Asos has recorded a year-on-year 89% drop in adjusted profits before tax, falling to £22m.

Does ASOS exploit workers? ›

Much closer to home, ASOS was accused of exploiting temporary warehouse workers in the UK in 2016. In Barnsley ASOS was said to manipulate employment law, allowing them to pay new employees lower wages for longer than regulations allow, saving ASOS thousands of pounds.

Who is the target customer of ASOS? ›

Asos markets itself as the go-to fashion retailer for young consumers and primarily targets 16 to 34 year olds across a broad socio-economic demographic.

Is ASOS big in America? ›

Since 2014, sales have more than quadrupled in the United States, projecting ASOS beyond European fashion borders.

Why is ASOS so famous? ›

ASOS' focus on the customer experience, as well as its investment in the latest online innovations and its ongoing efforts to become more sustainable, have helped it to stand out from other clothing retailers.

How much is the CEO of ASOS worth? ›

As of September 2022, Povlsen was listed as the richest Dane with a net worth estimated at US$11.3 billion.

How many employees does ASOS have worldwide? ›

Help drive our journey to becoming the global fashion destination for 20-somethings At ASOS our 3,000+ employees are immersed in the creative worlds and have a truly entrepreneurial attitude.

Does ASOS have a flat structure? ›

ASOS has consciously dismantled their hierarchy, preferring a flat structure to empower their team to act with authority, but also create a feeling of equality and togetherness in the team.

Who is Onlyfans CFO? ›

Liked by Lee Taylor

Since taking on my new role as Deputy…

Who is Kathy mikells? ›

Ms. Mikells currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Exxon Mobil. Previously, she served as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of Diageo plc from November 2015 until July 2021.

Who is the creative director of ASOS? ›

Katie Shiffman - Creative Director - ASOS.com | LinkedIn.

Is a profit warning bad? ›

Announcing a profit warning reveals that the earnings are below the market forecasts. This bad news can affect the firm's stock price because investors evaluate the company's outlook based on the analysis of the firm's financial statements and external environment.

What is an example of profit warning? ›

In March the company issued a profit warning that wiped 15% off the share price. They are both under pressure to improve the transport company's performance after a shock profit warning in March. The company issued a profit warning within hours of it, saying that sales had been hit in the run-up to the referendum.

How do you know that you are delivering bad profits? ›

Bad profits come from unfair or misleading pricing. Bad profits are about extracting value from customers, not creating value. When sales reps push overpriced or inappropriate products onto trusting customers, the reps are generating bad profits.

What are the signs a company is in trouble? ›

What Are Some Warning Signs that a Company is in Trouble
  • Trouble in the company.
  • Inadequate management.
  • Lack of financial resources.
  • Poor product or service quality.
  • Unsatisfactory customer service.
  • Low morale.
  • Poor working conditions.
  • Inconsistent strategy.

Why do share prices drop after a profit warning? ›

What happens when a profit warning is announced? Company share prices generally fall so timing the earnings announcement well can prepare the market for the adverse results, potentially lessening the negative impact on share prices.

How do you know if a company is in financial distress? ›

Six signs that a business is in distress
  1. Cash flow. The first sign things are going wrong is a constant lack of cash. ...
  2. High interest payments. ...
  3. Defaulting on bills. ...
  4. Extended debtor or creditor days. ...
  5. Falling margins. ...
  6. Unhappiness.

Is profit seeking immoral? ›

Profit is not exploitation. Of course, exploitation is not a good thing and economic surplus may arise as a result of immoral behaviour; but that is a different story. The problem there is the exploitation, rather than the profit itself. Profit generally arises from transactions that benefit both parties.

Is there such a thing as unreasonable profits? ›

Profiteering, however, is about making unreasonable profits through an indiscriminate use of unfair practices, such as slashing remuneration of employees, degrading the quality of the product offered to the consumers, taking advantage of scarcity and so on.

What is the opposite of profit warning? ›

Where profit warnings usually have an adverse impact on a company's stock price, the opposite is true for profit windfalls. Companies that expect to beat their own or analyst expectations often remain silent about this until the earnings release.

What did ASOS used to be called? ›

2000–2004: Founding and listing

In 2003, ASOS shareholders agreed to change the names of AsSeenOnScreen Holdings PLC and AsSeenOnScreen Limited to ASOS plc and ASOS.com Limited.

Is ASOS a takeover target? ›

ASOS PLC (LSE:ASC) might be a potential buyout target according to retail guru Clive Black at Shore Capital even though he rates the online fashion retailer as a 'sell'.

Where is ASOS most popular? ›

ASOS users

Over 25 million people are active users of ASOS, about 40% of which are based in the UK.

Are ASOS struggling? ›

Asos is just one of the brands experiencing ongoing turmoil and as the cost-of-living crisis bites, profits are slumping. “Across the industry, we are seeing a significant increase in returns from consumers.

Will ASOS recover? ›

ASOS and boohoo's road to recovery might start in 2023 but plenty of work to do. Fashion retailers ASOS PLC (LSE:ASC) and Boohoo Group PLC (AIM:BOO) endured a tough 2022, but the long road to recovery may have already begun for the pure online players.

Is ASOS oversold? ›

It now trades on only 13 times 2023 earnings, which is a very low level given its past record. Of course, just because a share is oversold, doesn't mean that it can't fall further before it recovers.

Does ASOS have child Labour? ›

Combatting modern slavery is fundamental to ASOS' approach to business. We're committed to ensuring there are no forms of modern slavery and child labour in our supply chain or business operations.

Is ASOS collusion? ›

Designed in conjunction with six creative collaborators, get to know the experimental clothing line that's helping to shape the future of fashion – oh, and it's exclusive to ASOS.

Why is ASOS not sustainable? ›

They do not have a plan to eliminate hazardous chemicals, establish a closed loop supply chain, create programs to extend the life of products, reduce their waste, protect the well-being of their raw-material suppliers, or use fabrics made of sustainably produced raw materials (in more than 50% of their collections).

Does ASOS have a competitive advantage? ›

ASOS's competitive advantage comes from its ability to offer fashionable brands and trendy products.

What marketing strategy does ASOS use? ›

ASOS makes use of one social media network particularly well for marketing: Twitter. The company regularly tweets outfit suggestions to followers, with images and links to clothing. In addition, they use Twitter to offer exclusive discounts on items.

What is ASOS marketing strategy? ›

Its online platform works by choosing the best fashion items from a variety of brands and grouping these items with the company's products. This strategy has not only helped ASOS sell their own products, but it has also led them to become the best online fashion destination.

Is ASOS still relevant? ›

ASOS will not go bankrupt because of the current issues as they have healthy enough sales and are not burdened by debt. I also see indicators that most issues are easing now - freight costs are dropping - resolving the supply chain costs issues, and US growth is great - meaning the logistics issues are mostly resolved.

Does ASOS sell authentic Nike? ›

At ASOS, we only stock genuine and authentic items, bought directly from the brands we offer – we don't buy fakes, so you can be sure the item you've received is genuine, even if it arrives in non-branded packaging. Currently, all clothing, accessories and jewellery goes into a plain bag.

Where is ASOS ranked? ›

In the Fashion market in the United Kingdom, asos.com is ranked #3 with > US$1,500m in 2021. Therefore, asos.com accounts for 0.0% - 5.0% of eCommerce net sales in this category. The top stores are sainsburys.co.uk, next.co.uk and asos.com.

Do celebrities wear ASOS? ›

Asos own-label creations are now worn by celebrities from Rihanna to Kate Hudson.

Why is stuff cheaper on ASOS? ›

Cheaper products are likely made with lower quality fabrics or come from factories in countries where manufacturing is cheaper. ASOS is incredibly transparent about where its products come from.

What was the first product sold on ASOS? ›

What did ASOS first sell? That's right! ASOS didn't start as a fashion company. In fact, the first product was a pestle and mortar.

When did Nick Beighton leave ASOS? ›

Asos CEO Nick Beighton resigned with immediate effect on 11 October from the etailer he had grown from a £220m-turnover company to £3.9bn today. When he joined as chief financial officer in 2009, Asos employed fewer than 200 people.

Who is Nick Beighton? ›

Nick Beighton is CEO of Matchesfashion, one of the biggest global destinations in online luxury for men and women. He is also Chairman of Secret Sales and Non-Executive Director at Raging Bull. Previously Nick was CEO of ASOS. During his tenure, ASOS grew over tenfold both in the UK and around the world.

When did Nick Beighton become CEO of ASOS? ›

Beighton left his post as CEO of Asos last year after helping to turn the business into to a 4 billion pound operation. He joined Asos in 2009 as acting chief financial officer before taking the big job in 2015. His experience has always been in leading high-street and fast-fashion companies.

Who owns ASOS shares? ›

Major shareholders
ManagerHoldings%
Camelot Capital Partners LLC11,278,29211.28%
T. Rowe Price Group5,984,6315.98%
Frasers Group Plc5,919,1785.92%
Schroders Plc3,979,5943.98%
3 more rows

How old is Nick Beighton ASOS? ›

Beighton, 47, joined ASOS in April 2009 as Chief Financial Officer, working closely with Nick Robertson on the growth of the company ever since, and stepping up to the COO role last October, widening his management responsibilities beyond finance. He was widely regarded by analysts as the heir apparent.

Why did Nick Beighton step down? ›

Asos said Beighton and the board had agreed that it was “the right time” for him to go after 12 years with the business and the past six of those in the role of chief executive, although no reason was offered for his departure.

Where does Nick Beighton live? ›

Nick Beighton - St. Albans, England, United Kingdom | Professional Profile | LinkedIn.

Who is the CEO of EMG? ›

Spencer Gore is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and CEO of EMG-Health. Over a 20+ year period, he has launched 7 different businesses across television, publishing, recruitment, sports & healthcare.

Who is the CEO of Secret Sales? ›

Commercial visionary and pioneer of ground-breaking ecommerce solutions, Chris Griffin, and his Lifestyle Retail Group (LRG), acquired Secret Sales in March 2020.

What is the business structure of ASOS? ›

As an online fashion retailer, ASOS makes money by purchasing clothes from wholesalers and then selling them for a profit. This includes the sale of private label or own-brand products. What is this? It also makes money through usage fees, commission fees, and advertising revenue.

Who is the CEO of Anabel Hoult? ›

Anabel Hoult is the CEO of Which, the UK's largest consumer organisation. She has experience spanning a range of sectors including retail, charity, consumer services and fintech.

How much is ASOS debt? ›

Compare ASOMY With Other Stocks
ASOS PLS Debt/Equity Ratio Historical Data
DateLong Term DebtShareholder's Equity
2020-02-29$1.56B$0.70B
2019-08-31$1.02B$0.58B
2019-02-28$0.86B$0.61B
10 more rows

Does ASOS own Zara? ›

Unfortunately Zara is not stocked on ASOS. Inditex also owns Bershka, Stradivarius and Pull & Bear, all of which are stocked on ASOS, but it's unclear why the retailer chose not to team up with ASOS when it comes to Zara. The good news is you can buy vintage and pre-loved Zara pieces on ASOS Marketplace.

Does ASOS debt? ›

' When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. Importantly, ASOS Plc (LON:ASC) does carry debt.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kareem Mueller DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6229

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kareem Mueller DO

Birthday: 1997-01-04

Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

Phone: +16704982844747

Job: Corporate Administration Planner

Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.