What: Selfridges' CFO Preetha McCann has left the company just four months after her appointment.

Why it is important: McCann's departure highlights a period of transition and potential instability within Selfridges' executive team, especially amid ongoing speculation about future ownership and partnership changes following the collapse of Austria's Signa Group.

Selfridges is on the hunt for a new finance chief after Preetha McCann exited the CFO role merely four months following her start in November. This sudden change, noted through several Companies House filings, occurs amidst increasing speculation about the luxury department store's next ownership phase. McCann, who transitioned to Selfridges from EY, succeeded Matthew Smith, the previous CFO of five years. Selfridges has not yet commented on her departure. The search for a new finance leader coincides with efforts by Thailand’s Central Group, Selfridges' co-owner, to find a new partner for its property business after Signa Group's collapse. Potential interest from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been mentioned, though no official expressions of interest have been confirmed.

Selfridges finance chief quits after just four months