Primark CEO Resignation Comes at a Fraught Time: Andrea Felsted

Primark — the fast-growing “cheap chic” clothing brand owned by Associated British Foods Plc. — faces a muscular Chinese rival in the form of Shein. The last thing it needs is turmoil in its top ranks.

On Monday, Primark’s parent said the chain’s chief executive officer, Paul Marchant, had resigned with immediate effect following an investigation into his alleged inappropriate behavior toward a woman in a social setting. Although the company appears to have dealt with the matter decisively, appointing a third party to lead the probe, it should perhaps have flagged to investors earlier that Marchant was under ...