With vast experience in retail.

Myer has appointed Julie Ann Morrison to its board as a non-executive director. She brings extensive experience in fashion retailing and brands from the sales floor through to merchandising, buying, marketing and managing director.

She was managing director of Bulgari UK from 2012 to 2014, concurrent with MD Bulgari Australia from 2007 to 2014. She was also the MD of FJB Australia, which had retail and distribution rights for brands including Gucci, Guess, Moschino, Lanvin and Fendi in south East Asia and Australia.

Hounsell said, “The board believes that as a result of her wide experience in fashion and retail Julie Ann is well placed to make a valuable contribution to the Myer board. She will be an excellent addition to the team.”

Commenting on her appointment, Morrison said, “I am very excited to work more closely with the Myer Holdings directors, many of whom I have directly engaged with during my time working with Myer’s speciality brands subsidiaries. Myer has a talented management team and an experienced board. I look forward to making a positive contribution to the good work they are doing.”

Morrison is an advisory board member and consultant to Carla Zampatti and a fashion business curator and advisor to the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas, which is a non-profit project to advance engagement in fashion culture and ideas. Julie Ann also consults on projects specialising in fashion, retail, brands and the arts.

Since February 2016, Morrison has been a non-executive director of subsidiary boards of Myer which operate the sass & bide fashion brand, providing valuable guidance on addressing performance issues, setting a new strategy and restructuring the management team. In July this year, Morrison was appointed non-executive chair of Specialty Brands Australia, a Myer subsidiary board which provides governance and strategic oversight to the sass & bide, Marcs and David Lawrence fashion businesses.

This appointment follows the recent confirmation that deputy chairman, Garry Hounsell will take over as chairman from Paul McClintock AO with effect from the close of the company’s 2017 AGM.