Best of 2025: What does Barry Williams’ return mean for Poundland?

Former Poundland boss Barry Williams was parachuted back onto the board of the discount chain at the start of the year as owner Pepco looked to address its struggling performance.
Williams stepped back from the helm of the value retailer in September 2023, when Pepco moved him across to head up and turnaround the group’s European sister chain.
His arrival coincided with the departure of Poundland’s managing director Austin Cooke, who resigned from the business after seven years and m