PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia has recruited former CEO and MD of David Jones, Paul Zahra as a global retail advisor to support its growing retail and consumer practice.

Zahra has been working with the professional services network since April last year, as a member of the firm’s diversity and inclusion advisory board.  Within the role, Zahra has provided strategic advice on the firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy; also mentoring PwC CEO Luke Sayers on diversity related matters.

PwC said Zahra had been in demand to advise clients with international brands wanting to enter Australia and ‘start-ups finding their feet.’

“We’re absolutely delighted to have Paul joining the team,” said Chris Paxton, retail and consumer practice leader, PwC Australia. “Our Australian practice has grown over 30 percent in the past year as we continue to support our clients to transform as a result of continued disruption, rapid acceleration of digital technology and changing customer expectations.

“We are looking forward to leveraging Paul’s experience for the benefit of our clients, particularly his understanding of what it takes to lead a retail brand through a period of significant transformation.”

Zahra has previously held senior management roles at Target Australia and Officeworks and said he was excited to be joining the retail chapter at PwC.

“I’m excited to be joining the PwC retail and consumer practice.  I have two immediate priorities: working with incumbent Australian retailers to transform the way they do business to meet the rapidly evolving expectations of their customers, and working with international brands as they look to enter the Australian marketplace.

“To grow, retail companies need to be omnichannel and they need to be thinking as a global entity for their future success.  I have experienced digital disruption and globalising forces first-hand and I’m keen to share that experience and my knowledge of what it takes to lead an organisation through a transformation with any organisation being disrupted or concerned about disruption in future.

“There are hundreds of retail brands looking for a foothold here and I’ll be working with them to help make that happen,” said Zahra.

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