National Retail Association CEO Trevor Evans has left his role after being elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Brisbane.
Ian Winterburn has now stepped in as a CEO while the organisation fires up recruitment.
Winterburn has congratulated Evans on the win and believes retailers will benefit from his experience representing the industry.
"As the Chairman indicated a couple of months ago when Trevor stood down to contest the election, retail will fare well from having someone in the Parliament who understands the challenges faced by small businesses and the policy settings needed for retail to succeed."
In light of the election, Winterburn has also expressed concerns about its outcome and negative impacts on retailers and small businesses.
"Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has claimed he will be able to form government.
"Even if this turns out to be true, he may struggle to pass some of the more business-friendly aspects of his policies – such as corporate tax cuts and an increase in the instant asset write-off threshold.
"And disappointingly, the task of reinstating the Australian Building and Construction Commission – the rationale for the double dissolution – now appears almost impossible.
"While that doesn’t directly affect retail, the cost of construction flows through to leasing costs and directly to the bottom line of retail businesses in shopping centres.
"So it would have been good to see some genuine reform in that area."