David Jones has appointed Erica Berchtold as Chief Executive Officer, with the former Chief Commercial Officer set to lead the next phase of the retailer’s five-year INSPIRE30 transformation plan.
Berchtold, who has held responsibility for David Jones’ supply chain over the past 12 months, has been appointed effective immediately. She brings experience across e-commerce, digital transformation, brand curation and retail operations, having previously led THE ICONIC and served as Managing Director of Rebel Sport.
Her appointment comes as David Jones looks to sharpen the execution of INSPIRE30, including operating model improvements aimed at lifting cost efficiency and capability. The transformation plan also includes work to enhance the company’s commercial portfolio, strengthen margins and reignite the David Jones brand through its customer offering and store network.
David Jones has also completed a new three-year, asset-backed lending facility with Hilco, which the company says will strengthen its balance sheet and provide financial flexibility to support growth initiatives and supplier partnerships.
Berchtold replaces Scott Fyfe in what David Jones described as a planned leadership transition.
“It is a tremendous honour to be appointed CEO of David Jones, one of Australia’s most iconic retail brands with a proud 188-year history,” Berchtold says.
“The refinancing allows us to stabilise and reset the business with a strong focus on growing our strategic core and modernising our technology and digital platforms.
“My aim is to further improve customer experience by curating our brand so that our strategy is aligned with our core values and the needs of our customers.
“I plan to lead our incredible team of people with decisive and results-oriented action.”
David Jones’ owner Anchorage Capital Partners thanked Fyfe for his contribution, including his role in leading the sale of the company to Anchorage in 2022, its separation from Woolworths Holdings of South Africa and the first phase of the transformation program.
Fyfe says he and the board had reached a mutual agreement to conclude his tenure as part of a management succession plan.
“Over the past five and a half years it has been an honour to lead the business through some of the most challenging times starting in covid, through change of ownership and significant transformation across the business, delivering growth,” he says.
“I am proud of the culture and values that we have established and all of our achievements.”
Hilco Capital says it is pleased to have formed a long-term relationship with David Jones.
“David Jones is well positioned for a new growth phase and will be well led by incoming Chief Executive Officer Erica Berchtold,” says Lewis McMenamin, Managing Director and Head of Capital Solutions ANZ at Hilco.
.JPG)
.JPG)
