Tourism Australia manager heads to Myer

Geoff Ikin, Tourism Australia’s general manager, global media, PR and social, has left the organisation to become chief customer officer at Myer.

The new role at Myer will bring together key customer facing functions including online, marketing, and advertising.

The announcement follows a swathe of executive cuts in August at the embattled retailer, including executive GM of marketing and customer, Louise Pearson.

Myer removed 30 positions from its executive and senior management team following a review of the support office.

The cuts came less than six months after the group lost its CEO, Richard Umbers, and its chairman, Garry Hounsell, took up the reins, announcing his intention to shake-up the ranks in order to lift Myer’s game.

Myer CEO, John King, said Ikin brings considerable skills, knowledge and expertise to this new role and is committed to putting customers first through all of Myer’s customer facing channels.

“Geoff’s career has been all about the customer. Through this new structure, he will ensure that we continue to build and grow our multi-channel offering including our MYER one loyalty program as well as delivering the best possible marketing and advertising to promote our brands and offers to our customers,” he said.

Myer recently resurrected its ‘My Store’ campaign once again in an attempt to turn around its fortunes. 

Myer had a near $500 million loss in the year to June 2018, leading to the plan to stop discounting by getting rid of clearance floors by mid-2019, reduce floor space, and focus on exclusive brands. Myer’s sales in the financial year were down 3.2 per cent to $3.1 billion, leading to a loss of $486 million compared to the previous financial year. 

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