Big W appoints new CEO

Big WWoolworths has appointed Sally Macdonald as the new CEO of Big W.

The retail giant announced Macdonald will lead the transformation of Woolworths’ general merchandise division, which includes Big W and EziBuy. Together these businesses are represented by 190 stores and 22,000 team members based in Australia and New Zealand.

Macdonald was the CEO and MD of Oroton Group from 2006 to 2013.

“We are delighted to announce Sally’s appointment,” said out-going Woolworths CEO, Grant O’Brien.

“Sally has a demonstrated track record of successfully transforming retail companies through brand and category development and business simplification. Her strong knowledge of retail and consumer branded markets, as well as her online experience, make her the ideal leader for Big W.”

Macdonald will commence in January and report to O’ Brien.

“I am excited to be leading the team and change program at Big W and EziBuy,” Macdonald said. “Whilst it is a competitive retail landscape, I believe Big W is a great Australian brand that has tremendous scale, represents fantastic value for customers and holds much potential for growth. EziBuy is also a solid platform for further online growth.

“I look forward to working with the team, meeting suppliers and spending a lot of time in stores,” she said.

Macdonald’s career includes more than seven years as a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group in the Melbourne and New York City offices; various buying and store operations roles with Banana Republic (a division of The Gap Inc, in San Francisco); and several private retail company directorships.

The appointment follows the departure of Big W MD, Alistair McGeorge, who resigned suddenly in August, citing health reasons.

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