Giving Tim "Zoolander" Smith a cracking run for his money at truism bingo is Myer's chairman designate Garry Hounsell, anointed on Tuesday by the seat's current (and stubborn) occupant Paul McClintock. "I am a strong believer in fighting for what you believe in," Hounsell told our sibling Chanticleer last week, presumably fresh from a Journey concert. I mean honestly, what has become of the English language? And given Richard Umbers' affection for gobbledygook, Myer looks bound for Peak Gibberish.

Precipitously, too, Hounsell has endorsed the department store's chief executive – who this month delivered a truly awful set of fiscal year numbers, which he denied the need to do from March until July – before even joining its board. "I have spent time with Richard Umbers and I am particularly impressed with what he is doing", the company director said before having spent any time with Myer's major shareholders, and having met Umbers briefly on two occasions. The market responded on Wednesday by sending its shares below 70¢.