JD Sports Fashion, the global sportswear retailer, has announced that Kath Smith will step down as senior independent director in January after more than seven years on the board.
Smith, who joined the board in May 2019, will leave her position on 19 January 2027.
During her tenure, she served as interim chief executive from May to September 2022 and led the search that brought Peter Agnefjäll onto the board as non-executive chair in September 2026.
She also sat on the audit and risk, nominations and ESG committees and served as the group's designated workforce engagement non-executive director.
Chief executive Régis Schultz paid tribute to her contribution, saying her "extensive experience and deep understanding of our brand partners has been invaluable to JD, and instrumental in helping us to strengthen our Group-wide proposition."
Smith was upbeat about the company she is leaving behind.
"The business is fundamentally in a strong place and I'm looking forward to watching the next phase of its journey," she said.
JD Sports said an independent search to find her replacement has already begun.
