Matilda Ashley, to a key leadership position. The fashion and real estate mogul has named Matilda as the director of Mash Holdings, the entity that controls his stake in Frasers Group and other associated companies.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Matilda’s promotion was confirmed through a filing with the UK’s Companies House. This new role places her at the helm of Ashley’s UK retail operations, further solidifying the family’s influence within the business.
Matilda joins the company from Double Take, a Mash-funded cosmetics brand that Frasers Group acquired last year. She previously served as the brand’s director, gaining valuable experience that likely contributed to her latest promotion.
This appointment is part of a broader trend within the Ashley family to integrate more relatives into the Frasers business. In 2021, Ashley’s son-in-law, Michael Murray, was named chief executive officer of Frasers Group. Additionally, Matilda’s boyfriend, David Al-Mudallal, currently holds the position of chief operating officer within the group.
While these moves have been beneficial for the family’s control over the business, they have also attracted scrutiny from shareholders, who have raised concerns about potential nepotism and the implications for corporate governance.
Mash Holdings Limited Group, the entity where Matilda will now serve as director, holds a 70.6 percent share in Frasers Group. This group is responsible for 99.99 percent of Frasers’ turnover and owns 100 percent of the shares in McGrove Developments Limited.
As Matilda takes on this significant role, the Ashley family continues to consolidate its influence over one of the UK’s largest retail empires, though not without facing ongoing challenges from stakeholders concerned about the company’s governance.