Pumpkin Patch adds Briscoe boss to board

Pumpkin Patch, the children's clothing retailer, has announced two new directors will join its board. Photo / NZH

Pumpkin Patch, the children's clothing retailer, has announced two new directors will join its board, one of whom is Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke.

Duke will take up the role as a non-executive director in June, taking the chair of Pumpkin Patch's audit and risk committee once David Jackson stands down in November.

Former New Zealand Dairy Board executive Peter Schuyt will join the Pumpkin Patch's board as an independent non-executive director in August.

Schuyt currently sits on a number of boards including Tatua Dairy Company, Port Nelson and Landcare Research.

"Rod's retail, supply chain, and procurement experience is well known and we are looking forward to him using that experience to support the company execute its long term strategies in those critical areas of our business," chair Jane Freeman said in a statement.

Under Duke's stewardship, Briscoe's shares sore 21 per cent in the past year as the homeware and sporting goods retailer posted a record 27 per cent increase in full-year profit to $27.5 million, in March.

Shares in Pumpkin Patch have tumbled 28 per cent as the company was forced to wind down its UK and US operations after stores failed to make acceptable returns.

Earlier this year, the Auckland-based children's clothing chain turned a first-half loss of $30 million in the six-months ended January 31, from a profit of $8 million a year earlier.

Since then the company has announced plans to team up with online retailer, Amazon to sell its products in Europe, while its Middle East partner, Jawad Business Group, will sell its Charlie & Me products in 25 stand-alone stores across the region over the next 12 months.

Shares in Pumpkin Patch rose 2.3 per cent to 86 cents today, while Briscoe stock is unchanged at $1.18.