Meet Paul Marchant, Primark CEO

Many of us rely on Primark for its affordable and on trend fashion, but who is the man behind the retail clothing store? Let's dive into Paul Marchant’s career, his influence on Primark, and the leadership lessons aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from his journey. Then we explore some retail franchise opportunities that you can consider investing in. You never know, one day you could become a CEO too!

Who is Primark CEO, Paul Marchant?

Paul Marchant was the Primark CEO until March 2025, taking over the role in September 2009. He played a crucial role in transforming Primark into one of the most recognised high-street retailers globally.

What was he doing before?

Before becoming Primark CEO, Paul Marchant filled the position of Chief Operating Officer of New Look Retail Group. With decades of experience in retail, he also served as Trading Director for Clothing at Debenhams and held senior buying roles at River Island and Topman. As COO of New Look Retail Group, Marchant observed Primark’s increasing UK presence, as it gradually launched stores in prime retail locations. In 2009, he decided to join the brand as COO, quickly becoming the CEO too.

To celebrate his 10th anniversary as Primark CEO this year, Paul Marchant shared his secrets for success. In an interview with Drapers he discussed how the business model needs to evolve with current trends so the brand stays fresh.

Our strapline is ‘Amazing fashion, amazing prices’, but I think it needs something else now. We need to give the shopper more reasons to shop with us. If I wake up on Saturday morning and it is chucking it down with rain, why am I going to get out of bed when I can watch Netflix and order Deliveroo and not even leave the house? We have to give a reason to come in. The more facets and dimensions you add to your model, the more chance you have of them saying ‘I’m going to go to Primark today’.

How did Paul Marchant becoming Primark CEO impact the brand?

There is little doubt that Paul Marchant has developed the Primark brand for the better. He steered the company through challenging shifts in retail trends, including the digital shopping boom, while keeping Primark’s physical store model thriving. When Paul Marchant took over as Primark’s CEO in 2009, there were 187 stores worldwide. Today, there are over 430 stores in multiple countries, demonstrating his ability to expand the brand’s global presence

69,000 The number of people employed by Primark

What is Primark?

From its humble beginnings in 1969 Ireland, Primark – or Penney’s, as it was originally called and still known as in Ireland – has grown to become a major international retailer. It offers affordable fashion for men, women, and children, along with homeware, beauty products, and even snacks.

Primark’s parent company, Associated British Foods (ABF), has been praised in recent years for working towards gender equality in its leadership team. It has been recognised as one of the top ten most improved FTSE 100 businesses in terms of the number of women on the Board of Directors.

How successful is Primark?

Primark has established a presence across Europe and the US with a network of over 430 stores across 15 countries. Today, the business employs more than 69,000 people and constantly refreshes its product offering.

The popularity of the brand is clear to see, as it has cultivated a following of almost 14 million customers across its social media platforms. In the year leading up the middle of September, its profits increased by 8 percent to £912 million and sales rose to £7.8 billion. The brand opened 14 new stores during this period, with plans for more expansion. Paul Marchant is proud to have been Primark’s CEO with such success.

Does Primark franchise?

No, Primark does not currently offer franchising opportunities. All Primark stores are company-owned, and Paul Marchant as Primark’s CEO had remained committed to this model to maintain consistent branding and operational standards. But don’t be disheartened - there are plenty of profitable franchise opportunities in the retail industry, not only in the clothing sector, but in areas such as food, technology and homeware too.

Alternative franchise opportunities in the fashion industry

Noa Noa

Bring the spirit of the Bohemian woman to your local high street with a Noa Noa franchise. This sustainable fashion franchise retails clothes that are made with the intention of representing strong women and allowing customers to feel like their true selves. In a world of fast-fashion, Noa Noa prides itself on offering a collection that will stand the test of time. Its clothes feature great attention to detail and striking colour contrasts.

Founded in Denmark in 1981, Noa Noa now boasts over 90 concept stores and 350 multi-brand outlets worldwide. It prioritises ethical production and is a proud member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative.

• Becoming a Noa Noa franchisee: Noa Noa is looking for people with previous experience in the fashion industry to help expand the business. So, whether you’ve run your own company or worked in a managerial role in another store, Noa Noa want to hear from you.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to be prepared to invest at least £40,000 to get your store up and running.
• What you get for your investment: Franchisees will also be able to access guidance and support whenever they need it. As part of the initial set-up process, store designer Christian Baumann will spend three days at each new location to ensure everything goes to plan. And to make sure your store is dressed to impress, visual merchandiser Satijana Blazeska will create stunning displays ready for your grand opening. What’s more, you’ll also be able to access marketing materials, training for your staff, as well as seasonal materials throughout the year.

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>> Read more:

• The Best Retail Franchises in the UK
• Understanding Retail Premises
• Start a Retail Franchise With Our Top 3 Convenience Stores
• Own a Retail Franchise That Helps Your Customers to Make Money
• What's the Total Cost of Running a Retail Franchise?

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Calzedonia

As one of the leading fashion retail brands in the world, Calzedonia has a large and loyal customer following. Its unique Italian fashion range is offered from around 4,000 stores. Want to open the next one?

• Becoming a Calzedonia franchisee: If you have previously run your own retail store, are business minded and have access to the financial requirements, then Calzedonia encourages you to apply.
• How much you need to invest: It costs between £50,000 and £100,000 to own your own retail clothing store. You should be able to get a proportion of this sourced from banks too.
• What you get for your investment: Every franchisee will be supported through the entire process by their Area District Manager. There’s also national advertising that you can benefit from.

If you like the sound of joining this award winning turnkey franchise package, go to the Calzedonia franchise page.

Start your own retail clothing franchise

If you’re not sure whether starting a clothing store franchise is the right fit for you, see our other articles on starting a clothes franchise and the best UK clothing franchises. We also have a number of huge clothing brands featured in our ‘does it franchise in the UK’? article series, including Uniqlo, Nike and H&M.

Quick Questions and Answers: Paul Marchant Primark CEO

Is Paul Marchant still CEO of Primark?

No, Paul Marchant resigned as Primark's CEO in March 2025 following an error of judgement in a social situation.

Who is currently the Primark CEO?

Eoin Tonge was appointed as the new CEO of Primark following Paul Marchant’s resignation in March 2025.

Who owns Primark?

Primark is owned by Associated British Foods plc (ABF), a diversified international food, ingredients, and retail group.

Who controls Primark?

Primark is operated as a division of Associated British Foods plc. Day-to-day operations are managed by Primark’s leadership team, with strategic oversight by ABF’s executive board.