MANJU MALHOTRA is a highly experienced and influential businesswoman who started her journey at Harvey Nichols as a newly qualified accountant in 1998. Over the years, she climbed the ranks, eventually becoming chief executive of this British luxury retailer. Her tenure was marked by resilience and adaptability, successfully guiding this national treasure through the pandemic that was declared just weeks after she assumed leadership. Her legacy remains one of galvanizing Harvey Nichols as a luxury destination delivering exception in-store and digital customer experience. Manju has since taken on a number of non-executive director posts – at the flexible office provider Workspace, where she is chair on the ESG committee and the fund manager Abrdn’s smaller companies growth trust, at which she is the Audit char. Manju was recently shortlisted as “NED to watch” in the Sunday Times non-executive Director awards. She is an alumna of the Asian Women of Achievement, and was featured in the Retail Week 100 and Draper’s Power 100 lists as well as being an ambassador and mentor to organisations that support and mentor the next generation of business leaders.