What Does WHSmith Do?

Total employees5675
HeadquartersSwindon
Founded1792

WHSmith PLC is a leading British retailer with a rich history dating back to 1792. Originally a newsagent, the company has evolved significantly and is now a global travel retailer with stores in airports, railway stations, hospitals, and motorway service areas worldwide, alongside its traditional high street presence in the UK. WHSmith operates through distinct segments: Travel, which is its primary growth engine, and High Street. The company offers a diverse range of products including books, stationery, newspapers, magazines, confectionery, and travel essentials, adapting its offerings to meet the needs of customers on the go and local communities.

Where Is WHSmith's Headquarters?

WHSmith officeWHSmith officeWHSmith officeWHSmith office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

The Swindon headquarters serves as the central hub for WHSmith's global operations, overseeing strategic planning, financial management, merchandising, marketing, human resources, and administrative functions for both its Travel and High Street divisions.

Notable Features:

Greenbridge House is a modern office facility designed to support a collaborative work environment. While not an architectural landmark in itself, it's equipped with contemporary amenities to facilitate the company's diverse operational needs.

Work Culture:

The work culture at WHSmith's headquarters is characterized by a fast-paced, commercially-driven environment, reflecting its retail and travel focus. There's an emphasis on efficiency, innovation in retail concepts, and adapting to changing customer demands.

HQ Significance:

The Swindon headquarters is significant as the nerve center for a company with a long British heritage that has successfully transitioned into a major international travel retailer. It's where key decisions shaping its global expansion and operational strategies are made.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters likely reflects WHSmith's core values such as customer focus, commercial acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to delivering convenience and value to its customers.

Location:

WHSmith operates a significant global network, primarily focused on the travel retail sector. This includes stores in airports, railway stations, hospitals, and workplaces in over 30 countries across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Key functions supported globally include retail operations management, merchandising and supply chain coordination for travel essentials, books, magazines, and convenience products, as well as business development for new site acquisitions and franchise partnerships.

Street Address:

Greenbridge Road

City:

Swindon

State/Province:

Wiltshire

Country:

United Kingdom

Where Else Does WHSmith Operate Around the World?

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Address: 3500 Lenox Rd NE Ste 1100, Atlanta, GA 30326-4272, United States

To drive growth and manage the WHSmith brand and store portfolio in the strategically important North American travel sector, adapting global strategies to local market conditions and opportunities.

Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Address: WHSmith Australia, Level 1, 425 Smith Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia

To expand WHSmith's footprint in the Australian travel retail market, tailoring product offerings and store concepts to meet the preferences of regional and international travellers.

Buying Intent Signals for WHSmith

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading WHSmith? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, WHSmith' leadership includes:

Carl Cowling - Group Chief Executive Officer
Robert Moorhead - Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Sean Lacy - Managing Director, International
Toby Keir - Managing Director, UK Travel
Kathleen Mezzanotte - Group HR Director

Who's Investing in WHSmith?

WHSmith has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

BlackRock, Inc.
Schroder Investment Management Ltd.
FIL Limited
Lindsell Train Limited
Royal London Asset Management Limited
Abrdn PLC

What Leadership Changes Has WHSmith Seen Recently?

Hire1
Exits2

Key executive changes at WHSmith in the last 12-18 months include the appointment of a new Group Chair and a transition in the Chief Financial Officer role. These changes align the senior leadership team as the company continues its strategic focus on global travel retail expansion.

Departures

Annette Court, Annette Court stepped down as Group Chair after serving since September 2022.
Max Izzard, Max Izzard resigned as CFO to take up a new opportunity at Burberry Group plc.

New Appointments:

Peter Bamford, Peter Bamford appointed as new Group Chair, bringing extensive board experience.
Robert Moorhead, Robert Moorhead, already Group COO, was appointed Chief Financial Officer, combining key operational and financial leadership.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byWHSmith?

Discover the tools WHSmith uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

WHSmith Email Formats and Examples

WHSmith primarily uses the 'firstname.lastname@whsmith.co.uk' email format for its corporate employees. While other formats might exist in specific cases or legacy systems, this structure is the most commonly encountered and reliable for reaching individuals within the company.

firstname.lastname@whsmith.co.uk

Format

john.smith@whsmith.co.uk

Example

80%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About WHSmith?

Reuters • May 23, 2024

WHSmith Confident on Full-Year Results as Travel Division Continues Strong Performance

WHSmith reported strong trading in its travel division, particularly in North America and the UK, driven by a continued recovery in passenger numbers. The company stated it is well-positioned to deliver full-year results in line with expectations, highlighting successful store rollouts and performance in its airport and railway station outlets....more

WHSmith PLC • April 24, 2024

WHSmith PLC Announces Half Year Results for the period ended 29 February 2024

WHSmith PLC released its half-year financial results, showing continued strong revenue growth in its global Travel division, up 13% (9% LFL). The company highlighted significant profit progression and ongoing expansion, particularly in North America, which is now its largest market by revenue....more

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