Austin Group, the Australian-owned fashion company behind Gazman, Cable and Perri Cutten, has appointed global executive Ben Groom to take over the reins as group CEO.
Current CEO and co-owner Will Austin will transition to chairman, remaining involved in the group with a particular focus on brand, product, customer and stores alongside the longer-term strategic direction of the business.
Groom joins Austin Group from an executive background that involved digital and technology remits. This included various technology roles at global furniture group MillerKnoll, where he eventually worked his way up to being the global president, as well as being the group CTO of Tiketek.
More recently, he is an advisory board member of Cerulean, which educates executives on AI implementation, and Groom holds a board seat on The Digital Stronghold – a multi-brand platform of digitally native consumer brands such as Taylor Stitch, Tie Bar, and Boston Scally Co.
Will Austin said the group had sought a leader who understood retail from the shop floor up and had operated at the highest level in technology and global business. Across the three brands it owns, Austin Group houses more than 700 employees, 140 stores, three online stores, and supplies to more than 120 wholesale locations.
Austin said he and his wife Georgie believe there is a much bigger opportunity ahead for Austin Group. This includes upping its game in technology, data and AI.
“Retail is changing faster than at any point in my career,” Austin said. “Technology and AI are reshaping how customers shop and how retailers operate, and getting this right will be key to Austin Group continuing to grow market share in the next phase.
“Ben has led a billion-dollar international business, run technology and AI for a Nasdaq-listed company and been recognised by Forbes as one of the world’s top technology leaders.
“He also started out on the floor of a Gazman store in Hobart. That is a rare and exciting combination. I expect we will see an increasing trend of technology leaders being appointed as retail CEOs.”
Austin added that moving to the chairman role will allow him to focus key aspects of the the brands, such as product and customers.
“Ben and I bring different but very complementary strengths,” Austin said. “I’ve spent much of my career close to our brands, product, customers and stores, and these remain the areas where I believe I can continue to make a significant contribution.
“This isn’t about stepping away from Austin Group. I’m incredibly excited about this next chapter and what Ben, our leadership team and our people can achieve together.”
Groom said he was joining Austin Group at a time of strength and significant opportunity.
“It is very special to come back as CEO of the business I first worked for as a university student in Hobart,” Groom said.
“What excites me most is joining a retail group that is already in a position of strength. Austin Group is outgrowing the industry, is financially strong and has three brands with real heritage, loyal customers and, most importantly, great people behind them.
“At the same time, there are so many opportunities ahead of us, from continued store growth to digital and international expansion.
“Retail is being reshaped by technology and AI. I’ve spent my career at the intersection of retail and technology, and I can’t think of a better time, or a better business, to bring those two worlds together.”
The formation of Austin Group came years after Garry Austin founded Gazman in Melbourne in 1974. Will Austin joined his father’s business at the age of 20.
Cable was independently founded by Georgie Austin in 2007, and scaled the business to 26 stores today.
The pair then decided to merge the brands under the Austin Group, with Perri Cutten joining the portfolio later.
Groom added that he and the executive team are hiring for a number of key roles to support the group’s growth ambitions.