Cifas appoints John Browett as chair

• Former Tesco.com and Dixons Retail Chief Executive will lead the Board of Cifas

Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, has appointed John Browett as its new Chair.

In a career spanning thirty years, John has held the position of Chief Executive within a number of major UK businesses including Tesco.com, Dixons Retail, Monsoon-Accessorize, and Dunelm Group.

He has extensive experience of transforming and strengthening the position of some of the UK’s most popular retailers. At Dixons, he was responsible for driving their five year transformation strategy and oversaw the successful merger of the Dixons Retail business to form Currys PC World. Prior to this, John played a key role in the major transformation of the Tesco operating model, launching and overseeing the retailer’s online operation, Tesco.com.

He succeeds Lady Barbara Judge who had already announced her intention to stand down as Chair of Cifas at the end of 2020, but who sadly passed away at the end of last month.

John Browett said: ‘I am delighted to be joining Cifas as Chair, they play a critical role in combatting fraud in the UK and I am looking forward to helping Mike Haley and his team to develop the services offered by Cifas.’

Arnold Wagner, Acting Chair of Cifas, said: ‘My Board colleagues and I are delighted that John has accepted our offer to lead the Cifas Board. He brings a wealth of senior level executive achievement as well as diverse non-executive experience. We look forward to working with him, supporting the ongoing development of Cifas to meet and combat the continuing threat and impact of fraud.’

Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, said: ‘The evolving threat of fraud brought about by the recent pandemic and ongoing economic uncertainty means that Cifas has an even greater role to play in supporting its members and the wider fraud prevention community.

‘John’s extensive business experience and strong leadership qualities will play an important part in helping us to strengthen our services during this time, as well as grow our business as we continue to invest in our membership offering, technology and products.&rsquo:

ENDS

For more information contact:

Corinne Gladstone
Head of Communications, Cifas
T: +44 (0)20 3004 3654
E: corinne.gladstone@cifas.org.uk

Notes to editors

More details about the Cifas Board are available on the Cifas website here.

About Cifas

Cifas is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that protects businesses and individuals through effective and secure data and intelligence sharing between the private, public and third sectors. In 2018, Cifas member organisations prevented over £1.4 billion of fraud losses.

Cifas data is included in the Office of National Statistics England and Wales Crime Statistics of police recorded crime and works alongside law enforcement agencies in tackling fraud.

Reference to geographical areas are provided where a postcode has been provided.

Contact us at press@cifas.org.uk