Quick Facts
Biography
Philip Edward Day (born October 1965) is a Dubai-based British billionaire, the CEO and owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM). Born in Stockport, he did several newspaper rounds as a boy and worked at different times for Coats Viyella, Wensum and Aquascutum before joining Edinburgh Woollen Mill and later leading a management buyout.
Early life
Philip Edward Day was born in October 1965. He grew up on a council estate in Stockport, working in his parents' newsagents shop and did several newspaper rounds a day.
Career
Day declined a university place to begin a business career, and worked for Coats Viyella and Wensum, before being headhunted to join Aquascutum at the age of 28. Day stayed at Aquascutum for five years eventually being promoted to joint managing director.
In 2001, Day left Aquascutum and joined Edinburgh Woollen Mill, where he led a buyout backed by Rutland Fund Management, a private equity firm. In 2002, he "seized control" with Royal Bank of Scotland backing his £69 million bid to buy out Rutland.
Day owns Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which in 2016 acquired the Austin Reed and Country Casuals brands, following the bankruptcy of the 116-year-old fashion retailer.
As of April 2016, his net worth is £1.05 billion, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
In May 2017, he opened the first Days (department store), in what had been the BHS premises in Guildhall Square, Carmarthen, which will house Peacocks, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Ponden Home, Jane Norman, and Austin Reed brands. This is intended to be the first of a chain of Days department stores.
Personal life
Day has been married to his wife Debra since 1990, they live in Edmond Castle, a Tudor-style house near Brampton, Cumbria, England, built 1824 to 1829, and designed by Sir Robert Smirke. Day is keen on shooting, especially pheasant and duck, and has been a director of Carlisle United, the local football club.
They have two daughters and one son. In 2016, their daughter Lauren Day joined the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group board as group development director. In 2010, their daughter Kirstie Day won Miss Cumbria; and a leaked email from EWM's head office to its stores ordered staff to vote for her to become Miss England, "I need and expect all stores to register a minimum of 10 votes today and I mean everybody!"
In 2013, Day was fined £450,000, ordered to pay £457,000 in costs, and called "grossly negligent" by the judge, for clearing part of Gelt Woods, near Brampton, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), for a pheasant shoot.
In February 2014, Day was due in Dumfries Sheriff Court on a charge of driving without due care and attention, after admitting to driving at 83mph and overtaking unsafely on the A7 between Auchenroch and Canonbie in February 2012.
As of 2017, Day lives in Dubai, and "spends fewer than 10 days a year in the UK".