Paul Aspden new Debenhams Group CTO to scale marketplace technology and AI innovation

Debenhams Group have announced the appointment of Paul Aspden as Chief Technology Officer, as the business accelerates its technology strategy and enters its next phase of growth. Paul brings more than a decade of experience leading technology and digital transformation across the retail sector.

Since joining Debenhams Group in 2023, he has played a pivotal role in establishing the business as an early adopter of innovative technology, transforming how the Group trades, creates and serves customers.

Most recently Director of Technology, Paul has been instrumental in developing and scaling the Group’s proprietary technology ecosystem which underpins the Group’s marketplace model – a shift that has been central to the turnaround of the business.

In his new role, Paul will focus on scaling Debenhams Group’s technology platform, with continued enhancements to make brand partner onboarding and management faster, smarter, and more seamless. He will also drive further innovation, including the expanded use of AI to enhance decision-making, operational efficiency and customer experience.

Paul has already supported the integration of AI across the business, including working on key strategic partnerships with Peak AI to deliver AI-powered pricing, merchandising and inventory optimisation.

Paul also supported the creation of the Group’s AI Skills Academy, developed in partnership with Multiverse, to equip employees with practical AI capabilities and help address the AI skills gap.

Paul has also overseen the Group’s partnership with Mirakl, supporting the continued expansion of its marketplace model and simplifying onboarding for new brand partners.

More recently, the Group partnered with PayPal to launch an AI-driven shopping experience, becoming the first retailer in the UK to enable customers to discover, receive personalised recommendations and check out entirely within the PayPal app.

Paul’s appointment comes as Debenhams Group strengthens its senior leadership team, recently welcoming Nikki Tattersall as Chief Product Officer to lead product strategy across the Group’s youth brands. This Group is also building strong momentum.

In March 2026, the Group announced a 36% year-on-year increase in full-year Adjusted EBITDA to £53 million for FY26 (to 28th February 2026), driven by a 76% increase in H2 Adjusted EBITDA. This is comfortably ahead of the previously upgraded guidance in the Group’s Trading Update, announced in January 2026.

Having worked closely with Paul for the last 12 years, what’s always stood out to me, is the way he combines strong, technological expertise and leadership with real commercial impact.

He has been instrumental in advancing the technology that underpins our marketplace model, while introducing AI-driven innovations that have supercharged both the customer experience and our operational efficiency. Technology has fundamentally transformed how we run the business, from stock and pricing management to how customers shop with us every day.

The focus now is on scaling these capabilities further, and Paul’s leadership will be central to making that happen. – Dan Finley, CEO, Debenhams Group I’m incredibly proud to step into the role of CTO.

Since I joined the business, the Group has undergone a significant transformation, cementing its position as a leading online retailer while pioneering some of the most exciting innovations in the industry.

There is a significant opportunity to go further – from scaling our platform and marketplace model, to embedding AI more deeply across the business and further enhancing how customers discover, explore and shop with us. I’m looking forward to working with the team to make the Group an even more dynamic place to shop and do business with.

– Paul Aspden, Chief Technology Officer, Debenhams Group