Exclusive: Poundland MD Austin Cooke exits

Poundland’s managing director Austin Cooke has left the discount chain less than two weeks after ex-boss Barry Williams returned to the helm, Retail Gazette has learnt.
Cooke, who stepped down this week, took over from Williams in September 2023 when he moved across to manage the retailer’s parent company Pepco’s operations in Europe.
Williams is currently overseeing a “comprehensive assessment” of Poundland and its sister chain Dealz in the Republic of Ireland. Rel