BBQ Galore fires up new team Aussie retail giant Barbeques Galore has just beefed up its team, welcoming on board Steve Gardner as general manager, retail and Rosie Alford as general manager, product. Gardner previously led the product team at the retailer and in his new role he will be overseeing the company-owned store network. He will also be helping to transform the Barbeques Galore store experience, with a number of refurbishments and new stores this year. Meanwhile, Alford has previo
as previously worked for a number of categories in her time at Barbeques Galore and was previously in buying roles at UK retailers British Home Stores and Tesco. She will be taking over Gardner’s former role.
Barbeques Galore CEO Angus McDonald said, “Barbeques Galore has undergone a significant transformation over the past three years, with the rollout of a new store design, increased brand investment, accelerated range renewal, and significant development in systems and processes, including a launch of a new e-commerce offering in the past year. With these appointments, the company looks forward to a continuation of this journey as Australia’s leading specialty retailer of BBQs and outdoor products.”
Flora and Fauna welcomes on board new GM
Eco-friendly lifestyle online retailer Flora and Fauna has just hired Nadia Lotter as general manager.
Lotter was previously head of product, marketing and digital at sustainable underwear brand, Boody and has had significant experience in leadership roles at a range of retailer brands, including Camilla and Marc, where she was head of marketing and digital and ex-jewellery retailer Samantha Wills, where she was general manager. Lotter has also worked at Sass and Bide and APG and Co in e-commerce roles.
Flora and Fauna was launched in 2014 by Julie Mathers and was acquired by beauty and wellness giant BWX last year, which is also the parent company for Nourished Life and Go-To Skincare.
Lazada appoints new Group CEO
Alibaba’s Southeast Asian e-commerce arm, Lazada, has named James Dong as its new Group CEO as competition in the region’s Shopee-dominated market steps up.
In his new role, Dong will oversee Lazada’s expansion plan into Europe. The 42-year-old CEO will succeed Chun Li, who will continue to serve as adviser to the group’s chairperson, Jiang Fan, and as a member of Lazada’s board of directors.
Formerly with McKinsey & Co, Dong was head of globalisation strategy and corporate development at Alibaba Group before joining Lazada as CEO of Lazada Thailand and Vietnam in 2018.
He has subsequently handed up leadership of the Vietnam unit to Kaya Qin, who has been chief operating officer of Lazada Vietnam since 2018.
Sephora CEO and president Martin Brok exits company
According to an article from WWD, Sephora CEO and president Martin Brok is departing the beauty retail giant after less than two years. He will be replaced by his predecessor, Chris de Lapuente, Chairman and CEO of the Selective Retailing division at parent company LVMH.
Brok has 30 years of experience in the retail industry and was previously president of EMEA at Starbuck and spent eight years at Nike, where he was VP Global Product and Merchandising Operations and Analytics.