TLDR: Leanne Rothwell, former CEO of Not On The High Street, has announced her new ventures, taking on an advisory role with AI-powered employee hiring specialist addbuttr and collaborating with social commerce startup i love it. This follows a period of intentional break during which she completed the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme.
Leanne Rothwell, who previously served as CEO of Not On The High Street for nearly 13 and a half years, has embarked on a new chapter, embracing roles in the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence and social commerce. Her latest moves include joining addbuttr, an AI-powered employee hiring specialist, as an advisor to its founding team, and collaborating with the social commerce startup i love it.
Rothwell’s decision to step down from her CEO role in April was followed by a deliberate break over the summer. In a recent LinkedIn post, she reflected on this period, stating, “When I decided to step down from my CEO role in April, I made a commitment to myself to take a genuine break over the summer. As someone who has always been driven by the next challenge, I wasn’t entirely convinced that I’d follow through.” She added that her brain didn’t switch off but rather ‘switched channels,’ allowing her to travel, spend time with friends, and tick off bucket list items, including watching baby turtles hatch in the Great Barrier Reef.
Crucially, during this sabbatical, Rothwell deepened her expertise in a critical modern technology. She revealed, “I’ve been learning languages again (Spanish and French, gracias/merci, Duolingo), and I completed the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme with Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, deepening my understanding of how AI can, and will, reshape business.” This strategic educational pursuit directly informs her new advisory position at addbuttr, highlighting her commitment to leveraging AI’s transformative potential in business.
Her engagement with addbuttr, an AI-powered platform focused on employee hiring, signifies a direct application of her newly acquired AI knowledge and extensive leadership experience. Concurrently, Rothwell will also be dedicating her time to i love it, a social commerce startup that recently expanded its platform to include Decathlon. This dual focus showcases her interest in both technological innovation and evolving retail landscapes.
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Rothwell expressed renewed vigor after her break, stating, “Hitting pause for a few months was both exciting and daunting. It required intentionality and commitment. Having taken this time, I feel renewed, energised and clearer about the impact I want to make next. If you have the opportunity to take time out, even briefly, I can’t advocate for it enough. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is step back and embrace the things that offer us everyday inspiration.” Her return to the professional arena is marked by a clear vision for contributing to innovative companies at the forefront of technology and commerce.
