Myer bolsters retail chops with appointment of Jacquie Naylor to board

Myer has bolstered the retail experience of its boardroom with the appointment of Jacquie Naylor.

Jacquie Naylor (left) with Collette Garnsey and Susan Renouf at the launch party of Zara on Melbourne’s Bourke Street in 2011.

Department store Myer has strengthened the retail experience of its boardroom with the appointment of retail veteran Jacquie Naylor as a non-executive director effective from Monday.

Myer (MYR) has long been criticised by its biggest shareholder, rebel investor Solomon Lew and his Premier Investments, who has attacked Myer for not having directors with strong retail credentials.

Last year Mr Lew Mr Lew described the Myer boardroom as a “clueless board” that he compared to a horse trainer who “wouldn’t know one end of a horse from the other”.

Myer Chairman Garry Hounsell said this morning Ms Naylor is one of the most respected retailers in Australia.

“With over thirty years of retail experience, Jacquie brings a wealth of knowledge of both women’s and men’s apparel, homewares and outdoor brands.”

Ms Naylor has been an owner, director and executive at some of the most iconic Australian retailers including as an executive director and non-executive director at the Just Jeans Group, owner and adviser to boutique retailer, Husk, and a non-executive director at The PAS Group and at Cambridge Clothing Ltd.

In addition, she was a non-executive director of outdoor brands, Macpac, which is sold in more than thirty countries.

Mr Hounsell also highlighted Ms Naylor’s executive experience at the Just Jeans Group: “Jacquie was a group executive cirector responsible for driving, with great success, the merchandise, marketing and brand strategies of five of their key brands including: Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacquie E and Dotti.”

Those brands are all now owned by Mr Lew’s Premier Investments.

“Jacquie has a record of improving the financial performance of the companies that she has been associated with and driving their strategic direction. In addition, she brings considerable eCommerce experience from her retail career and as a strategic adviser at Practicology, a digital marketing and eCommerce agency,” Mr Hounsell said.

Ms Naylor was a non-executive director of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival for more than 12 years. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of the International Women’s Forum.