Myer CEO starts to build new management team

MYER’S incoming chief executive John King has started assembling his retail dream team with the appointment of a new chief merchandising officer at the struggling department store chain.

Allan Winstanley, who heads apparel for Kmart and Sears in the US and has previously worked for British de- partment store chain House of Fraser, will take over Myer’s merchandise buying and planning in July.

His appointment was revealed as Myer announced a broader shake-up of its senior leadership ranks, with chief general counsel and company secretary Richard Amos leaving the retailer.

Mr Winstanley’s is the first senior appointment at Myer since it announced former House of Fraser chief John King would take over as chief executive.

Mr King worked with Mr Winstanley at House of Fraser — one of Britain’s biggest department store chains by store count — between 2006 and 2014.

Myer executive chairman Garry Hounsell said Mr King and Mr Winstanley were part of a successful turnaround strategy rolled out at House of Fraser during those years.

“John and Allan represent a formidable and proven team, being two highly experienced executives who are committed to making Myer more relevant again, to improving the financial performance of the company and delivering shareholder value,” Mr Hounsell said yesterday.

Mr Winstanley has also worked at Holland’s De Bijenkorf high-end department store chain — owned by the same family that owns Selfridges — and British menswear group Moss Bros.

Myer also announced Mr Amos would leave the business next month after three years in the role.

Senior corporate counsel Jonathan Garland will take over Mr Amos’s role.

Mr King was appointed the new chief executive of Myer in late April following the abrupt exit of former chief Richard Umbers. Mr King takes up the role next month.

The overhaul of senior positions at Myer comes as its biggest shareholder, retail billionaire Solomon Lew, runs a fierce campaign to overthrow the board.