As Dixons Retail’s chief executive heads for Apple in California, the retailer has found its new leaders from within its multichannel renewal programme.
Dixons, which owns brands from PC World and Currys to Dixons.co.uk and PIXmania, announced today that its group chief executive John Browett was departing to take up the role of senior vice president of retail at Apple in California. He will be replaced by Sebastian James, currently group operations director, who has played a key part in the group’s renewal and transformation programme. In particular he has developed new store formats for the multichannel group.
At the same time Katie Bickerstaffe, who heads its ecommerce operations in the UK and Ireland, is promoted to the new board-level role of UK and Ireland chief executive. She will join the company’s board on February 20.
In a statement, Dixons Retail chairman John Allan said: “I would like to thank John for the very considerable contribution he has made to the group through the Renewal & Transformation plan over the last four years.
“The group is now in a significantly stronger position and can look to the future with confidence. I wish him well for the exciting opportunity ahead. We are fortunate to have in Sebastian and Katie, two extremely strong retailers with tremendous experience who will bring continuity to the progress we are making as a group.”
In its latest trading statement, Dixons Retail said multichannel sales were growing fast and now accounted for 19% of its total sales. But total sales in the 12 weeks to January were down by 3% and in the UK down by 6%.
