David Jones chief Ian Nairn quits, John Dixon appointed as CEO

The chief executive of David Jones, Ian Nairn, has quit a little over a year after taking the job.

Ian Nairn’s sudden exit comes at a time when David Jones is posting strong like for like retail sales and eclipsing the performance of its arch rival Myer. Pictures: Justin Lloyd

A little over a year of becoming the chief executive of up-market retailer David Jones, its boss Ian Nairn has quit in mysterious and unexplained circumstances with retail sector talk pointing to John Dixon, a former executive of UK retailer Marks & Spencer, is his replacement at the top of the 177 year old department store.

As yet there has been no announcement to the Johannesberg Stock Exchange by David Jones owner, the South African retailer Woolworths Holdings, but it is believed Mr Nairn has stepped down with staff at the department store’s offices currently being informed of his shock departure.

His sudden exit comes at a time when David Jones is posting strong like for like retail sales and eclipsing the performance of its arch rival Myer.

Under its new owners Woolworths Holdings, David Jones led by Mr Nairn, who took over as boss from Paul Zahra, has recorded its strongest sales growth in eight years with David Jones recently unveiling sales for the year ending June 30 rose 6.4 per cent, as same-store sales growth hit 3.7 per cent. This was around double the sales growth pace at Myer.

Mr Nairn, a former boss of Country Road which is also owned by Woolworths Holdings, was spearheading a rejuvenation and operational restructure at David Jones, repositioning its fashion offer, technology, supply chain and store refurbishments.

He had only taken the reins at David Jones in August last year after Woolworths Holdings bought the up-market department store in a $2.2 billion takeover.

His replacement, Mr Dixon, resigned as the head of Marks & Spencer’s clothing and homewares business in July amid fierce rivalry as senior figures battled to become heir apparent to Marc Bolland, the chief executive of the iconic British retailer.

Until his departure, Mr Dixon was the longest-serving member of M & S’s senior team having worked for the company for nearly 30 years.

The 47-year old followed his father into the business by joining in 1986 as a management trainee at the retailer’s Eastbourne store.

His departure from M & S came as the company under pressure from shareholders to improve till receipts. At the start of the year, Mr Dixon delivered a sales rise after years of decline, but they slipped again as a cold Spring took its toll.