Manju Malhotra: down-to-earth Londoner at the Harvey Nichols helm

theguardian.com:

Enjoying a cup of tea in the sunshine on the Harvey Nichols roof terrace, Manju Malhotra is clearly in her element, the quietly confident boss of one of the UK’s national treasures.

Her first visit to the Knightsbridge department store was many years ago: she treated herself to a John Smedley sweater after finishing her economics degree. Malhotra says she would never have dreamed back then of being one of an elite few women of colour running a major UK retail brand.

The down-to-earth Londoner’s first role in the capital’s temple of high fashion was as an audit manager, in 1998. She now presides over an empire of eight stores in the UK and Ireland, including large outlets in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, as well as a specialist beauty shop in Liverpool and five overseas branches.

Founded as a linen shop in a terrace house on the corner of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street in 1831, Harvey Nichols became the focal point of a lifestyle celebrated, and mocked, by Patsy and Edina on Absolutely Fabulous in the 1990s. It is now as well known for its dining as its fashions, with a suite of restaurants that includes the Oxo Tower by the Thames.

Malhotra’s first retail experiences were a long way from the marbled floors of Knightsbridge. Hers is a tale of rag trade to riches: she grew up helping out at her parents’ fashion store just off Brick Lane in London’s East End. “It was the entry level of the market, before fast fashion,” she says.

Age 49

Family Married for 25 years, two children.

Education University of Warwick, Economics BSc.

Pay Undisclosed (the company is privately owned).

Last holiday Dubai.

Best advice she has been given? Think and behave like an owner.

Biggest career mistake She has done one brief stint working in