The Board of the South Africa-based company has announced that Roy Bagattini has been appointed as the new group's CEO and Executive Director, from the 17^th of February 2020 onwards. Ian Moir will step down from his position as group's CEO and Executive Director with effect from the 16^th February 2020 onwards.

In order to facilitate a smooth transition, Ian will be working closely with Roy and will also continue his role as acting CEO of David Jones, the department store which was under his particular supervision since August last year.

Moir has been leading Woolworths for nine years. He was first appointed to the Board in early 2010 and then named CEO. Prior to becoming the group's CEO, Moir was the CEO of Country Road, another name from the Woolworths portfolio.

Roy Bagattini was responsible for leading its company's largest commercial operations and a significant network of retail stores across the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Latin America. "Roy also played an instrumental role in the development and acceleration of the e-commerce and omni-channel capabilities of Levi Strauss", Woolworths said in a statement. Bagattini brings with him two decades experience in working in international markets, as a result of being the President of Levi Strauss' operations in Asia pacific, the Middle east and Africa between 2013 and 2016.