James Reed: all about business14 Apr 2025

23. From shop floor to CEO of Kurt Geiger: How to climb to the top in fashion | Neil Clifford

How do you go from cleaning toilets to running a multi-million pound company?

In this episode of All about business, I sit down with Neil Clifford, the CEO of luxury footwear brand Kurt Geiger. Neil left school with just one O-Level, and rose to become a top player in the retail industry.

We discuss the lessons Neil learned from his early retail jobs, why CEOs shouldn’t work from home, and how he helped turn Kurt Geiger into a multimillion pound international business.

Neil Clifford started his career at Kurt Geiger as a store manager and worked his way up to becoming CEO over the course of 20 years. He has been instrumental in expanding the business internationally and launching its online presence. The brand has grown to operate in 28 countries with 57 standalone retail locations.

Neil is also dedicated to giving back to the community, having set up The Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation which aims to raise £1 million every year to support young creatives. The Foundation has also created Business By Design, an academy for 18-20 year olds to upskill and prepare them for careers in fashion.

Timestamps

03:12 First jobs and rising through the retail ranks

13:17 Career breakthroughs

22:12 Private equity and global expansion

37:36 Strategies for business growth

40:05 Personal reflections

50:24 Philanthropy and social responsibility

Links

Check out Kurt Geiger

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