Lindex Group — the Finnish company that also owns Stockmann department stores — said Stockmann’s COO Tove Westermarck is to “join a new employer”.

But she’ll stay with the group until this autumn and a recruitment process for a new COO has begun.

She’s moving to Fiskars, the heritage business that owns brands including Fiskars itself, Wedgwood, George Jensen and more.

Lindex CEO Susanne Ehnbåge said she’d “played a significant role in the development of Stockmann’s department store and online business during her long Stockmann career. She has held demanding leadership positions in many different areas of our business and has worked alongside our people through many phases of change.

“Last November, the Stockmann division’s strategy was updated, and its implementation was started under Tove’s leadership with a focus on the development of offering, loyalty programme and omnichannel experience as well as cost efficiency improvement. I would like to thank Tove already at this stage for her dedicated work to improve the profitability of Stockmann’s business and to develop the Stockmann brand and customer experience.” 

Westermarck praised the business she’s leaving and said her “warm relationship with the company will continue, now that I’m moving on to a new job. I’m convinced that our committed team will drive the implementation of our strategy with determination, further strengthening the customer experience and building a good foundation for future growth”.