Former Bridgepoint Chief Executive Will Succeed Gerry Murphy Following His Retirement in November 2026
Burberry has named William Jackson, founder and former chief executive officer of Bridgepoint Group Plc, as its next chair, succeeding Gerry Murphy following his retirement later this year.
The British luxury house said Murphy, who joined the board in May 2018, will step down as chair at the time of Burberry’s interim results in November 2026, nearing the completion of a nine-year tenure. Jackson will join the company as a non-executive director on July 1 and stand for election at Burberry’s annual general meeting on July 15 before formally assuming the chair role following a transition period.
The appointment follows what Burberry described as a comprehensive search process led by senior independent director Orna NiChionna.
Jackson is widely known for building Bridgepoint into one of Europe’s leading private equity firms, overseeing investments across consumer, retail, and hospitality sectors. Among the firm’s most notable deals was the acquisition of a majority stake in Pret A Manger in 2008, which Jackson chaired through a period of significant international expansion before its sale to JAB Holdings in 2018.
Bridgepoint, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, also holds interests in brands including MotoGP and Itsu. Beyond Bridgepoint, Jackson has served on the boards of British Land Plc and Berkeley Group Holdings Plc and currently acts as a non-executive director at IFM Investors and chair of the Lawn Tennis Association.
“Burberry has strong foundations, a clear strategic direction, and a talented executive team led by Josh Schulman,” Jackson said. “I look forward to working closely with Josh and the board to build on this momentum and realize Burberry’s full potential.”
Murphy reflected on his time leading the board during a transformative period for the company. “It has been a privilege to serve as chair of this extraordinary 170-year-old brand since 2018,” he said. “I am very confident that, under William’s and Josh’s leadership, this unique and special business is well positioned for the future.”
The leadership transition comes as Burberry continues its broader repositioning strategy under chief executive officer Josh Schulman, who joined the company last year amid efforts to restore momentum and sharpen the brand’s luxury positioning.