Selfridges CEO André Maeder sets out his strategy for the department store

André Maeder, chief executive of Selfridges, has given a rare on-record interview setting out how he sees the London department store's role and strategy. The appearance matters less for any single announcement than for the signal it sends: Selfridges, under its Thailand-based Central Group and Saudi-backed ownership since the 2022 sale by the Weston family, is keen to be seen articulating a clear point of view at a time when department stores across Europe and the US are struggling to justify their real estate and format.

Department stores have had a difficult run globally. Several storied names have closed, shrunk or been sold in recent years as shoppers migrate to direct-to-consumer luxury boutiques, resale platforms and online multi-brand retailers. Selfridges has tried to differentiate through experiential retail, including its long-running mix of pop-ups, dining and cultural programming, positioning the store as a destination rather than simply a distribution point for brands.

How Maeder's comments translate into capital allocation and merchandising decisions will be the real test. Ownership by Central Group, which also controls other European department stores, gives Selfridges backing to invest through a difficult trading environment, but it also means performance will be judged against a portfolio of similar assets. Watch for signs of how Selfridges balances its heritage positioning with the commercial pressure to prove the department store model still works for luxury brands deciding where to place their most important physical retail bets.

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