KEY POINTS:
Leaving the top job at Glassons was "the most difficult decision" of Di Humphries' life.
But she is convinced she has made it for all the right reasons.
Ms Humphries, 39, took on the job of managing director of the women's retail clothing chain 15 months ago, when
her baby daughter Sophia Rose was only three months old.
At the time she could not have imagined giving it all up, she admits.
"I don't think you ever think about it when you're as career-oriented as I am. You sometimes don't think until you're in the middle of it," she told The Press newspaper.
Ms Humphries said she wanted to spend more time with her 18-month old daughter.
"It's the most difficult decision of my life," she said.
"It's my dream job, but I really want to be an influence in my daughter's life. I've hardly spent two seconds with her.
"I've missed the first 18 months. I need to put a bit of time in there. I won't have that opportunity again."
Ms Humphries, who lives in Christchurch, took up the role of managing director in July last year after starting out on the shop floor in Palmerston North.
In 2000 she led the company's push into the Australian market, where it now has 25 stores. In 2004, she joined the Hallenstein Glasson Holdings Ltd board, where she will remain as a director after leaving as managing director on December 1.
"I've really enjoyed driving the shop in the direction it needed to go," she said.
Hallenstein's general manager James Whiting, who has been with the group for 15 years, will replace her, and non-executive director Roy Dillon will take the role of Hallenstein's managing director.
Ms Humphries said she had no idea whether the decision to quit would hinder her career.
"I've got enough fire in my belly to ensure that it doesn't. As long as I'm the driver of my own vehicle and not the passenger, I should be fine."
She did not know how she was going to cope being a stay-at-home mum.
"It will be a huge change. I know my partner is extremely worried about it. I'll just take one day at a time."
She has some external projects lined up, but would not say what they were.
Ms Humphries has been on the record saying she ultimately wants to run her own listed company.
She said yesterday that her goals had not changed; they had just been put on hold.
In the past financial year, group turnover topped $200 million, a 1.7 per cent increase on last year.
- NZPA