Solomon Lew’s right-hand man announces surprise resignation.

 

Mark McInnes (pictured), the high-profile retail executive who had a key role in the establishment of Officeworks in 1994 as well as driving the international expansion of boutique stationery chain Smiggle, will leave Premier Investments early next year after a 10-year stint as CEO.

 

McInnes is credited with being the co-founder of Officeworks when Lew was chairman of Coles Myer, before its acquisition by Wesfarmers. 

 

Officeworks has revenues in excess of $2.3 billion and employs more than 7000 staff across 167 locations.

 

McInnes was a high profile CEO of department store group David Jones, but left under a cloud in 2010 following a highly-publicised sexual harassment scandal.

 

Lew, Premier Investments' chairman, said the group under McInnes' leadership has delivered year-on-year record operational and financial performance. 

 

Subsidiary Premier Retail group, which includes the Smiggle chain, trades from more than 1200 stores across seven countries, as well as through wholesale and online.