APG & Co brings former ASOS MD on board; Michael Hill appoints acting CEO

APG&Co brings on board former ASOS MD

Carly De Carvalho (pictured) has been appointed general manager of marketing for APG&Co. With more than 10 years’ experience as a digital leader in Australia and the UK, before joining APG&Co, De Carvalho was the head of Australia & New Zealand for ASOS and also established the e-commerce department at retailer RM Williams. She is also a previous board member of the National Online Retail Association.

APG&Co is home to several longstanding Australian fashion labels including Sportscraft, Jag and SABA.

Blundy resigns from Accent, Aventus

Billionaire businessman Brett Blundy has resigned as a non-executive director at Accent Group, but will continue to provide advisory services through a private arrangement with the company.

Blundy is the chairman of private investment firm BBRC, which has an interest in several retail businesses, including Accent Group, Lovisa, Adairs, Honey Birdette and Aventus Group, a property company with 20 large-format retail centres in its portfolio.

A statement released to the ASX said that Blundy has entered into a similar arrangement with Aventus Group.

According to the Australian Financial Review, Blundy is the largest shareholder of Aventus Group, a company he co-founded, with 28.9 per cent of the shares for a stake worth some $300 million.

Accent Group’s chairman, David Gordon, said the new arrangement enables the footwear giant to maintain a “strategically valuable connection with Brett and with the entire BBRC Group globally”.

BBRC owns approximately 18.2 per cent of Accent Group’s shares. Blundy served as a director of the company from December 2017 until May 12, 2020.

Michael Hill CEO reduces workload to recover

Michael Hill chief executive Daniel Bracken will take a few weeks off to recover from surgery, the business announced.

The jewellery retailer’s board initially determined that Bracken could fulfil his duties during the short recovery period, but eventually decided to appoint chief financial officer Andrew Lowe as acting CEO to aid in Bracken’s recovery.

The announcement came as Michael Hill confirmed it will be reopening stores under a leaner operating structure moving forward.