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Woolworths Holdings, parent company to David Jones, has announced a leadership shakeup.

The South African-based company has poached Levi Strauss president Roy Bahattini to lead the group.

Bahattini will replace Ian Moir, who will step down in February after nine years at the helm.

Moir will remain in his role leading David Jones, and will work with Bahattini to ensure a transition of leadership.

This will give David Jones a full-time CEO for the first time since early 2019, when David Thomas unexpectedly resigned for personal reasons.

During his tenure, Moir was widely questioned around his acquisition of the David Jones in 2014.

The group has had to write down the value of the $2 billion twice since purchase.

Bagattini, 56, has been running Levi Strauss in the US for more than three years.

He previously served as the denim brand's Asia Pacific, Middle-East and Africa president.

Woolworths chairman Hubert Brody welcomed him to the team.

"Roy has extensive operational, management and turnaround experience in global consumer and retail markets, which will prove invaluable as we continue to navigate the structural changes taking place in the retail sector and the challenges particular to our group.”

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