Super Retail Group (SRG), the owner of brands Amart Sports, BCF Boating Camping Fishing, Supercheap Auto, Rays and Rebel, has announced the appointment of Paul Hayes as chief information officer (CIO) to the company.

Hayes joins SRG from UK retailer, John Lewis, where he served for a number of years as head of information systems (IS) delivery. He had been a member of the senior leadership team at John Lewis from 2006, and played a major role in the transformation of the retailer’s IS delivery services and digital platform.

As CIO, Hayes will lead SRG’s IS team and operations, with responsibility for developing and implementing cost-effective technologies, as well as the development of the group’s long-term information systems and digital roadmap, including ongoing data security enhancement.

 Peter Birtles, MD and CEO, SRG, said the hire underlined the company’s digital ambitions.

“It’s no secret digital and online has turned retail into a global business. Building globally best-in-class technology and digital capabilities requires globally best-in-class talent, and I am thrilled we were able to entice Paul to the sunny shores of Queensland to take up this key role,” Birtles said.

“John Lewis is widely recognised as a leader in digital and retail innovation, and we are excited to have Paul join our business at a time when we are focused on strengthening our capabilities in digital and data management across the group,” Birtles continued.

Hayes cites the company’s commitment to digital innovation as playing a critical role in his move from the UK.

 “Super Retail Group has a clear vision of where it wants to go in an omni-channel world and the role of technology in supporting that, which is rare in the retail sector internationally.

“It is this clarity of purpose that sets successful innovators like John Lewis and Super Retail Group apart, and why I was excited by the potential of this role to take technology and digital at Super Retail Group to the next level,” Hayes said.

Prior to joining John Lewis, Paul was a senior IT consultant with IBM leading multi-million dollar projects for premier retailers including Tesco, Argos and Woolworths, and prior to that held a variety of roles with British Home Stores.

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