Galen set to appoint Fox to Selfridges

Lastminute.com founder Martha Lane Fox is poised to become the new head of upmarket department store group Selfridges, it was reported today.

The 30-year-old has been approached by Canadian billionaire Galen Weston, who also owns Brown Thomas, to manage the Selfridges empire – just weeks after deciding to quit as chief executive of the online ticket agency she set up in 1998.

Although a job title has not yet been agreed, Ms Lane Fox will work closely with Mr Weston in driving forward the success of Selfridges which he acquired in October, according to Britain's Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Weston is understood to be impressed by Ms Lane Fox’s business acumen after she helped Lastminute post its first annual profit this year.