Continental commuter
THERE is something intrinsically street smart about Ian Moir.
He comes across as if he knows how to handle himself in a scrap, while at the same time is razor sharp and says it as he sees it.
From Scotland, he’s operated for nearly two decades in retail in Australia.
And in the past five years he has been commuting between South Africa and Australia as CEO of Woolworths.
In fact, his wife and their four daughters are still in Australia, where the youngest daughter is finishing school.
So while Moir is based in Cape Town, he still has a house in Melbourne, and has been accelerating businesses in both markets.
“It’s not for everybody, but I love it. Hopefully, now that my youngest has just finished school, my wife can come live here.”
Possibly it’s Moir’s background in the UK, but the morning the deal was announced, a quote from Winston Churchill sprung to mind: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
It might have been a bit depressing at six in the morning after arduous long nights planning and assessing with a legion of advisers, a string of bankers and lorry full of lawyers, but as he says, he’s ready for it.
Moir knows both South African and Australian markets intimately.
He got Country Road on track in Australia, slashing costs, closing its US operation and getting its supply chain in order after the company was on the verge of liquidation.
Other South African retailers have had a tough time in Australia.
Pick n Pay left that market in 2011, and Truworths withdrew its Sportsgirl brand.
Pepkor is still in the market with Best & Less and Harris Scarfe.
As CEO of Woolworths for four years, Moir has developed more fashionable products, reduced turnaround times, is sourcing more efficiently and entrenched the perception of the group as a premium brand while at the same time developing value offerings.