Online fashion retailer Boohoo has appointed Sir Brian Leveson to provide independent oversight of the group’s supply chain transformation programme.

The e-commerce platform has appointed the former judge, who led the independent inquiry into press ethics, to oversee the overhaul of its business practices and supply chains following a review led by Alison Levitt QC which found a series of failings.

The Levitt review, published in September, examined allegations of poor working conditions and low pay for garment manufacturing workers at its fulfillment centre in Leicester and recommended that the retailer undertake a change programme for corporate governance and monitoring.


Following the review, the online fashion group, which owns brands including PrettyLittleThing and NastyGal, said £10 million would be invested in “eradicating malpractice” in its supply chain.

The group said that Sir Brian’s appointment would enable independent oversight of the Agenda for Change programme and would deliver “long‐lasting and meaningful change to the Group's supply chain and its business practices.”

Sir Brian will report directly to the Board and his reports will be published in a bid to bring both transparency and further independence to the process.

He has also appointed both legal, and independent enquiry and enforcement specialists to supplement the Agenda for Change programme to ensure that everyone associated with the Group's supply chain is treated fully in accordance with the law and the principles of ethical trading.

The group has also appointed KPMG to assist with the programme. The professional services firm will work with the Boohoo’s responsible sourcing and compliance team, and existing supply chain auditors Bureau Veritas and Verisio.

Mahmud Kamani, Group Executive Chairman, commented: "I am encouraged by the progress that has been made to date by our teams since setting out our Agenda for Change programme in September. Myself and the board are fully committed to this programme, with the appointments of Sir Brian Leveson and KPMG bringing independent oversight, additional expertise and further transparency to a programme that will help us on our journey to lead the fashion e‐commerce market globally in a transparent manner."

Sir Brian Leveson said: "Boohoo has recognised that it must institute and embed change so that everyone involved in the Group's supply chain is treated fully in accordance with the law and the principles of ethical trading.

He added:“I look forward to providing independent oversight of the Agenda for Change programme and to working with the boohoo team, KPMG and the other independent experts to achieve this, while, at the same time, providing publicly available progress reports."

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