New head honcho at menswear chain GazMan

Menswear retailer GazMan will enter 2010 with a new chief executive officer, as the family business prepares to capitalise on double-digit sales increases from the 2009 financial year.

GazMan executive chairman Garry Austin has appointed Tony Oates, a former senior manager at several public and private enterprises, to the top job, following months of high level discussions. In an exclusive interview with Ragtrader, Oates said his appointment was “not a traditional one”, as he hashed out future plans with Austin over several meetings before assuming the unadvertised role.

“The thing that really attracted me to GazMan was the fact its foundations are extremely strong, it has great equity in the marketplace and a very successful wholesale and retail operation,” Oates said. “I also understand the nuances in running a family business.”

The company currently has 42 stores across Australia, in addition to a strong presence at department stores Myer and David Jones.

Oates began his career with a cadetship at Grace Brothers (Myer), working his way up to the role of national buyer before joining wholesale business JNH Australia as general manager. The business grew from a $10 million operation to a $100 million public company after it was acquired by Funtastic in 2002.

Oates, who has over 25 years’ experience in the retail and wholesale sector, was a director on the Funtastic board for five years and a senior manager for three.

For more on Oates and his plans for GazMan, pick up a copy of Ragtrader’s January 29 issue.

Assia Benmedjdoub