News - Ex-Dixons boss to head Apple retail division

[HEXUS]

John Browett gets a $56 million "Golden Hello".

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[KeyboardDemon]

He's a great guy, I've worked with him.

[Brewster0101]

They've employed a man who has failed to turn around a failing business. Although I am sure the situation that DSG group is in is not his fault, but he didn't really improve it either.

[BerZerk]

He must be laughing all the way to the bank now...

[AlexGTR]

I bet that is a bit of a payrise from Dixons.

[KeyboardDemon]

They've employed a man who has failed to turn around a failing business. Although I am sure the situation that DSG group is in is not his fault, but he didn't really improve it either.

I disagree. He did a lot for the company, he restored confidence with suppliers, he restored confidence with investors, he turned around parts of the business that were failing to achieve their targets and in many case running with annual operating losses and he was behind the drive to improve the image of the chain which has brought consumers back to the stores.

Without him the group could be looking at the same sort of outlook that is facings companies like Comet, HMV, Staples and even Best Buy.

[crossy]

he was behind the drive to improve the image of the chain which has brought consumers back to the stores.

Hmm, that reminds me that someone else was commenting that PC World folks seem a little more switched on than they did 2-3 years ago - more training, or did they "workforce manage" the deadbeats?

As to the Apple move, then judging on my local PCW store he's been getting some practice in - I'd estimate that around 20% of the space allocated to the main gear (so that's not the components, or non-PC or gaming stuff) is taken up with a huge Apple area. Actually since it's a two level store, and the PC stuff is mainly upstairs, the fact that this Apple marquee is at the front of the raised bit means that it dominates the store.

US$56mil thou' is a heck of a "hello" though - so either the guy is s**t-hot or very over-rated. Or is Apple's "premium" pricing now applying to their top management too?

[ilh]

From 1 ripoff company to another, he'll fit right in.

[KeyboardDemon]

Hmm, that reminds me that someone else was commenting that PC World folks seem a little more switched on than they did 2-3 years ago - more training, or did they "workforce manage" the deadbeats?

The culture change started almost as soon as he took over the running of the company, as far as I can tell (being an outsider looking in) I think it is more emphasis on a better recruitment process than it has been on "workforce management", but I know that a lot has been done in terms of training and trying to do more to offer customers affordable services and products that they want.

As for Apple being in stores, I'm surprised you haven't mentioned the amount of space that's been given to other brands such as HP, Samsung, Sony even Microsoft and Google Chrome are all working or have been working with DSGi stores in partnership arrangements, I suspect Apple's prime position will be as a result of Apple's investment in training the DSGi sales teams across the regions.