Sarah Brown, wife of the former prime minister Gordon Brown, has returned to the world of business and joined the Qatari-owned Harrods as a non-executive director.

Since leaving Downing Street nearly three years ago, Brown has been focusing on working for various charity campaigns and writing her own autobiography. Previously working for brand consultancy Wolff Olins and co-founding PR firm Hobsbawm Macaulay, she is also known as a patron of not-for-profits organizations, White Ribbon Alliance and Women’s Aid. In September, Brown decided to join the famous department store to focus on drafting and implementing marketing strategies to (re)-establish the ethical image of Harrods. Brown says:

“I look forward to my return to business in joining the Harrods Group board and welcome the opportunity to work on the marketing and corporate social responsibility plans.”

Qatar Holding, the investment of the emirates royal family, acquired Harrods for £1.5 billion in 2010. It is not clear how many days Brown will work nor how much she will be paid for her duties but Qatar Holding obviously welcomed the appointment.

A spokesperson said that the company believed that Brown can on her “extensive experience” to offer “input and insight into the company's strategic initiatives and overall business”.