• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Monday January 19 2026

WH Smith appoints new executive chair

Swindon-headquartered retail giant WH Smith has appointed ex-Balfour Beatty chief Leo Quinn as it executive chair.

He replaces Annette Court in a shakeup aimed at restoring confidence.

He joins as the retailer grapples with the fallout from accounting errors in its North America business that sent shares tumbling, delayed annual results, and prompted an audit probe and the exit of its then-CEO.

Leo Quinn said: “WHSmith is a great business with a remarkable heritage.

“Working with the leadership team and our colleagues worldwide, I intend to ensure the company has the right foundations in place to deliver long-term value for its investors, business partners and employees.”