Apple today announced that John Browett will join the company as senior vice president of Retail, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Browett comes to Apple from European technology retailer Dixons Retail, where he has been CEO since 2007.
Beginning in April, he will be responsible for Apple’s retail strategy and the continued expansion of Apple retail stores around the world.
“Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we’ve met,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “We are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his incredible retail experience to Apple.”
Prior to joining Dixons Retail, Browett held a series of executive positions at Tesco plc including CEO of Tesco.com. Earlier in his career he advised retail and consumer goods clients at Boston Consulting Group. He holds a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MBA from Wharton Business School.
Source: Apple Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, Mr. Browett. You’ve got some big shoes to fill, so best of luck, too!
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Why? Dixons and Currys shops are dire.
True, giving the benefit of the doubt though, most of the stuff they have to stock is crap, so there’s only so much they can do with it.
Steve would never had invited that guy on board
Very poor decision there, Dixons stores are crap.
Apple now a consumer electronics retailer?
Next there be bringing out a bloody toaster!
That’s why he left. He couldn’t find anyone that could do what he wanted done. (facetiousness)
Like anybody who lives in the UK, I know that a visit to a Dixon’s shop is something that is best avoided whenever possible, so it’s impossible to link Dixon’s with a good customer experience.
However, I also know that sometimes in a company, there may be one or two individuals who have values and aspirations that are wasted within the structure of that company.
Browett joined Dixon’s in 2007 and the appalling customer experience was something that long preceded that date. He has worked for some other companies that have had pretty good track records and I’m prepared to believe that Tim Cook sees potential in Browett that isn’t obvious to a Dixon’s customer.
I wish him well. I hope that he delivers what Tim Cook is expecting, otherwise his career at Apple will be short lived.
I certainly hope he makes sure that Apple Store’s continue to be well stocked. It’s a well known fact that if you go to a Dixons/Currys for something, it will most definitely not be in stock.
I avoid Dixons/Currys like the plague. Horrible stores.
Oh Baby, I hope this isn’t what it seems to be.
I’m keeping an open mind about Mr. Browett, but he does have awfully large shoes to fill.
On the face of it this is a crazy decision; Dixon’s and Curry’s is a failed formula that’s deservedly in financial trouble with a shopping experience that is simply terrible. Their corporate philosophy is to pile high, hire dopey sales people and train them to ripoff people where possible and hard sell. Their idea of advice is to pressurise you into buying an extended warranty This guy obviously talked the talk in Cook’s eyes, but can he walk the walk?
I’d love to know what he said.
I hope if all the skepticism is true, they fire him before he does too much damage.
Then again, that new screaming Penney’s commercial makes me want to avoid the store. Or at least the commercial..
Oh Crap! I knew it would be difficult to fill Johnson’s shoes, but this guy better NOT turn the Apple store into this picture:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jun/24/dixons-dsg-name-rebrand-profits
I think that Browett’s history with Tesco is probably more significant here. Then he took the Dixons post because he wanted to be in charge of something. Now he’s realised that being in charge of a pile of crap isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…
Tesco not a pile of crap as well? I could understand Sainsbury’s Marks & Spencer or Waitrose, but Tesco?
……. agree with all of this. Dixons is one of the worst retailers in the UK – poor people and poor product displays – so I hope this guy really knows what the Apple game is and FAST …
Not tempted by his Tesco background – they are not exactly a example of GREAT retailing – they too are pile it high sell it cheap ….
“Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we’ve met,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
Tim needs to get out more.
As a former Apple Retail Sr. Mgr., this decision puzzles me. Who is the Browett character?
First, why hire someone from the U.K.? While much of Apple’s retail expansion will be global, the vast majority of revenue comes from the U.S.
Second, Dixon’s looks like a glorified discount retailer. A retailer that thrives on promotions and sales to drive traffic, loud signs to attract attention, and certainly doesn’t depend on well trained and educated sales folks to recommend products. Why not hire the CEO of Walgreens or CVS?
Third, let’s compare. Johnson came from Target where he helped establish their identity as midpoint between Walmart and a department store. Browett comes from a discount convenience store where he did what?
Forth, and I cannot stress this enough… Apple Retail is the most demanding, strikingly different, and secretly innovative retail experience in the industry. Just because Browett claims to have a passion for the customer, doesn’t mean he has all of the tools required to manage a retail sector (consumer electronics) that is wildly different than Dixon’s. (Albeit, it will be easier now that upset customers can’t email Steve Jobs directly anymore.)
As a stockholder, I certainly wish Mr. Browett success and good luck. He has a lot of very talented folks working in Apple Retail. But, there are also some huge challenges as traffic and sales grow but store size remains constant.
It must be april fools day???
It’s like employing someone from ford to run Aston Martin’s chain of dealerships.
2 totally different retail experiences that need specialist experience
All of those who point out how dire Dixons and PCWorld were have a point, but in fairness to Browett he has made significant changes during his tenure. In my experience they are nowhere near as bad as they once were.
OK, that may not be saying a lot since there’s still a way to go, but credit where it’s due. They’ve seen off BestBuy’s UK venture without breaking sweat….