Myer's newly appointed CEO John King has admitted he has a tough job ahead.
John King, a former CEO of UK department store House of Fraser, commenced his role yesterday with a tour of Myer stores.
"I enjoyed getting to know our team at Doncaster, joining them for their morning meeting before the store opened, then hitting the selling floor and meeting our customers," he said.
"We have to put the customer first - in every decision we make and every action we take. This has been my absolute focus in all of my retail roles, and it will continue to be my focus at Myer.
"With Myer team members, brand partners and suppliers, I will ensure we’re providing customers with the service, brands and products they want, and expect, from Myer; whether that be in store or online.
"To deliver on this, I’ll be spending at least two days every week in stores, serving our customers, hearing their views and those of our team members.
"I know that Myer holds a special place in Australian retailing, but I also understand that this position has shifted in recent times, and, is being challenged by an ever changing global retail environment.
"I am confident that we can turn this great company around. We can rebuild pride, confidence and relevance in Myer, especially with our customers.
"I am a passionate retailer and I am very excited to be part of the Myer family. I am in no doubt that we have a lot of work to do but with an unwavering focus on the customer, I am confident that we can deliver."
King has already appointed a new chief merchandise officer, Allan Winstanley, who worked with him at House of Fraser from 2006 to 2014.