Former Tesco Boss Sir Terry Leahy Invests In Occa Home

Former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy is among a number of investors that have invested in homeware and furniture site Occa-Home.co.uk.

The Glasgow-based site has raised a total of £1.5 million from sources including Artemis Fund Managers, a consortium of private equity funds and existing shareholders which include tech investor Bill Dobbie and The Hut and Asos-backer, William Currie Group.

Leahy joins the board as does Jill Little, former buying and merchandise director at John Lewis as Occa Home prepares to accelerate growth.

Former Best Buy International boss Bob Willett joined the board as chairman following the last round of funding raising, it was announced in March.

Kate Mooney, founder and chief executive of Occa Home, said: 'We are delighted to welcome out new shareholders and advisers to Occa, many of whom bring extensive ecommerce experience to the business. We're thrilled to be working with retail stalwarts [like these] as we go for significant growth over the next three years.'

Mooney: Good To Be Working With 
Stalwarts Like Leahy

Occa Home was launched in 2009 and is understood to have grown at 'triple digit rates' since then.

Occa stocks a range of upmarket products including Anglepoise, Calvin Klein, Versace, Vivienne Westwood, Missoni and Timourous Beasties. Mooney had previously focused on her Occa-Design business which mostly designed and furnished hotel interiors from 2003.