Sarah Waterland

I have 25 years of experience working in-house for two major High Street retailers, both of which were on exciting journeys to keep pace and innovate within the manufacturing, distribution and retailing worlds. I have worked with global brands and tiny businesses to help get products to market in a compliant way. I was Deputy General Counsel at Next for over 20 years through a period of huge change, from the infancy of online own-brand sales to the global multi-brand hub it has become. I then spent nearly 5 years as Head of Legal at Holland & Barrett supporting its expansion overseas and the development of relationships with other retailers, as both marketplace seller and manufacturer and supplier of its own-branded wellness products. Very early on in my inhouse career, I was taught to consider myself as a retailer first & foremost, who brought legal expertise to retailing issues and this remains my approach. I am great at listening, not just to the problem presented, but to see where the gaps are, so we can consider the whole picture and decide on the best way forward together