Stuart Rose

Stuart Rose and 3i have enjoyed a long-standing partnership.   His most recent 3i appointment is as Chairman of luxury lingerie business Agent Provocateur in November 2007, following the company’s acquisition by 3i. 

Stuart connected with the Agent Provocateur investment team when 3i was first developing its interest in the business. His sector knowledge and relationship-building skills played an important role in shaping the investment in Agent Provocateur and steering it towards successful execution.

This is Stuart’s fourth non-executive role within a 3i portfolio company.  His other current roles include:

• Non-executive Director of Giraffe, a UK chain of family-friendly restaurants in which 3i made a minority investment in 2006
• Chairman of MKM Group, the UK builders merchants
• Non-Executive Director with Clifford Thames Group, an information outsourcing firm.

Stuart’s track record reveals a strong ability to lead companies whose brands are known world-wide: he was formerly the MD and Deputy Chairman of The Body Shop.  As a Chairman of The Hamleys Group for the last 5 years, he was the architect of the retailer's international expansion.   In his view: “Customers are more brand-aware than ever.  Brands create trust and help companies stay engaged with customers, whatever the economic climate.  That’s why it makes sense to invest in them.”

In the case of Agent Provocateur, Stuart sees “an awareness of the brand that is out of all proportion to the size of the business”.  The company’s incredibly strong image will support a rapid acceleration in its international presence, enabling the company to achieve a step change in size while preserving its style and cachet.

For Stuart, it is essential to take a long-term view of a premium brand like Agent Provocateur and continue investing in it at all stage of the economic cycle: “It takes a long time to build a brand.  That’s why the value can be colossal.”