Next has announced that Venetia Butterfield will join the company as an independent non-executive director, taking up her position on 2 April this year.

Butterfield will also become a member of the nomination, audit and remuneration committees.

She is currently managing director of Cornerstone, the largest adult division of publisher Penguin Random House. She has previously held similar roles at Penguin General and managed the Viking, Penguin Business and Penguin Life imprints.

Next said that her experience as a business leader and a marketing professional at an independent business within a larger organisation will be helpful as Next increases the number of businesses it takes on with the group.

In November, Next raised its full year pre-tax profit guidance to £885 million after a strong third quarter.

The retailer said that the increased guidance, which was up by £10 million, comes after full price sales in the period from August to October rose by four per cent on the previous year – £23 million ahead of its full year profit guidance which was previously due to be increased by two per cent.

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