Retail veteran Jeff Streader for Billabong

Billabong has appointed veteran retail executive Jeff Streader as its chief operating officer in the hope that the company can draw on his supply chain experience.

Previously, Mr Streader has worked at Guess, Kellwood, VF Corporation, Fasturn and Oxford Industries.

Billabong chief executive Neil Fisk said Mr Streader had at least 30 years’ experience working with complex multichannel operations for some of the industry’s leading consumer brands and retailers.

“Jeff’s deep experience in global supply chain and operations will help us build the global platforms we need to improve our speed to market, inventory turn, and product margins,” Mr Fisk said. “We have identified supply chain as a major opportunity for profit improvement and one of the seven strategic planks in our turnaround program. Having someone of Jeff’s calibre on our team will dramatically accelerate our progress.”

Mr Streader would also oversee the upgrading of Billabong’s information technology and e-commerce platforms.

Most recently, he was an Operating Partner at Marlin Equity, a global investment firm that acquires and manages businesses, with over $3 billion of capital under management.

Before that, he was the senior vice-president of the supply chain at Guess.