New CEO appointed
Former marketing executive with Myer Stores Ltd Craig Welsh has been appointed AWI's new chief executive officer, taking up the role in late January.
Mr Welsh was most recently general manager of marketing for Myer and before that held a variety of general management roles, including group general manager of the Colorado Group's Diana Ferrari, JAG and DKNY divisions. He also has extensive executive experience covering wholesale, retail, R&D, supply chain and mergers and acquisitions.
Image: Craig Welsh has been appointed AWI's new chief executive officer, "to take AWI and its innovations from the farm through to our key international apparel business markets."
The AWI selection panel undertook an Australia-wide and international search for suitable candidates for the CEO position.
"The panel was presented with an excellent selection of highly skilled and experienced candidates from a range of industries," says Ian McLachlan, AWI chairman. "Mr Welsh was chosen for his extremely strong work history in the marketing and general management of diversified branded apparel companies, as well as retail companies in Australia and leading multinationals.
"The AWI board is pleased to appoint Mr Welsh, whose job it is to take AWI and its innovations from the farm through to our key international apparel business markets."
Mr Welsh began his career in sales with apparel company RA Palmer, then joined Campbell's Soups Australia, where he had a variety of sales and marketing roles. In 1986 he moved to Puma Australia, where he rose through the ranks to become national marketing manager and oversaw a transformation of the Puma brand.
In 1999 Mr Welsh was approached to be CEO of Clarks Shoes and presided over a turnaround in the business before it was sold to Pacific Brands. In 2001 he was appointed group general manager of Diana Ferrari, JAG and DKNY, which were newly acquired divisions of the Colorado Group. Mr Welsh presided over the post-merger integration of these businesses and repositioning of these brands.
Although AWI started as a research and development company three years ago, it has now advanced into the business of marketing its post-farm innovations to its global business partners, and Mr Welsh, with his business and marketing experience, will continue to drive this strategy.
Mr Welsh will also oversee the planned integration of AWI and Australian Wool Services (AWS).
Mr McLachlan says the AWI Board is pleased that Mr Welsh has agreed to take on this leadership role at a critical time in AWI's development as a world-class research, development, innovation and marketing company.
Return to Beyond the Bale Issue 26 index page.