| Wed 26 Oct 2005, 12:00 | | New Clicks Holdings - Appointment of international |
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New Clicks Holdings - Appointment of international retailer as deputy CEO
New Clicks Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1996/000645/06)
JSE share code: NCL
ISIN: ZAE000014585
("New Clicks" or "the group")
NEW CLICKS APPOINTS INTERNATIONAL RETAILER AS DEPUTY CEO
Cape Town - New Clicks today announced the appointment of experienced
international retail specialist, David Kneale, as deputy chief executive officer
of the group with effect from January 2006.
Kneale, 51, was until recently chief commercial officer and a member of the
executive committee of listed health and beauty retailer, Boots Group plc, in
the United Kingdom.
His appointment forms part of an executive restructuring at New Clicks which
will strengthen the management and add depth and experience to the team.
Trevor Honneysett, chief executive of New Clicks, describes Kneale"s appointment
as a coup for the group and the local retail industry.
"David has gained extensive experience at Boots, which has an annual turnover of
GBP5.5 billion. He has worked mainly in merchandising and marketing and was
widely regarded as one of the top health and beauty specialists in the UK retail
market."
"His appointment, which is subject to approval of local immigration authorities,
comes at a critical time for the group as we refocus Clicks and integrate
pharmacy into our business. As a regular visitor to the country, David invested
in the local property market a few years ago and is committed to a future in
South Africa."
Kneale joined Boots in 1976 and held senior appointments in the retail area of
the business, being appointed managing director of international retail
development in 1997. He left Boots in 1999 when he was appointed managing
director of Waterstone"s Booksellers. He returned to Boots in 2002 as director
of trading and in January 2003 was appointed chief commercial officer,
responsible for trading operations.
The new structure recognises the importance of Clicks in the overall success of
the group. The appointment of Kneale will enable Michael Harvey, the brand
leader of Clicks and overall head of the group"s other retail brands, to focus
on the turnaround in the Clicks brand and its transformation to a health and
beauty focused drugstore.
"The magnitude of the Clicks recovery programme and the integration of pharmacy
into the brand requires dedicated leadership and Mike will now be able to devote
his full attention to Clicks," said Honneysett.
After an orientation period of some three months, during which time Kneale will
be exposed to all areas of the group"s retail and distribution operations, he
will assume line management responsibility with the Discom, Entertainment
division, The Body Shop, Style Studio and UPD businesses reporting to him.
Keith Warburton, an experienced retail executive who was appointed chief
financial officer in September 2005, is currently conducting a critical
appraisal of the group"s systems, practices and procedures. His current
responsibility for group finance and administration will shortly be expanded to
include other central services.
Kneale, Warburton and Harvey will report to Honneysett and constitute the
executive committee of the group.
Honneysett said the group"s leadership now has a range of complementary skills
and talents and the team will collectively focus on realising the potential in
the business.
Cape Town
26 October 2005
Issued by Tier 1 Investor Relations on behalf of New Clicks
For further information kindly contact
Tier 1 Investor Relations
Tel (021) 702-3102
Date: 26/10/2005 12:00:05 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
