Harrods boss Michael Ward said to step down this summer

The boss of Harrods will reportedly step down this summer after a decade at the helm of the world-famous Knightsbridge department store.

According to Sky News, Michael Ward’s departure was announced internally to Harrods staff on Thursday evening, but it was unclear whether the store has lined up a successor.

Ward, a former executive at private equity investment group Apax Partners, joined the Qatari-owned company back in 2006 when it was owned by Mohamed Al Fayed.

In 2010, Harrods was bought by Qatar Holding – an investment arm of the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund – for £1.5bn.

Ward, who has been an outspoken critic of the government's indecision to expand airport capacity in the south-east of England, has overseen the extension of the Harrods brand into areas such as hotels, and expanded its retail interests.