Michael Hill has welcomed a new chief of retail and a new head of marketing as executives Vanessa Brennan and Andrea Slingsby depart the business.
The jeweller has welcomed Amy Sznicer as its new chief retail officer, while Jo Feeney joins the business as its new chief marketing officer.
Speaking on their appointments, Michael Hill CEO Daniel Bracken said that the business is thrilled to welcome Sznicer and Feeney to the team.
"As we emerge from our critical trading period, with a stronger balance sheet, a leaner operating model and evolving strategies, I’m looking forward to welcoming two new leaders, who together with our existing executives, will continue to transform and inspire the business for growth," he said.
The news of their appointments complements the business' H1 FY21 trading results in which it reported strong same store sales, margin growth and EBIT growth.
The Company expects group EBIT of $56 million to $60 million, with comparable EBIT for the half of $41m to $45m (FY20H1: $31.6m), representing 30% - 40% EBIT growth.
Meanwhile, same store sales were strong, lifting 6.3% for the half, with the Australian market delivering strong same store results, up 12% for the period.
Margin growth substantially improved too, with Michael Hill reporting margin growth in all markets and channels of 150 to 250 bps for the period.
"Following a strong first five months, it was particularly pleasing to see all markets deliver positive same store sales growth for the all-important Christmas trading period," Bracken said.
"I am delighted that our strong trading performance across the half, coupled with our unwavering focus on costs, has in turn delivered material EBIT growth for the Group, in spite of challenging trading conditions worldwide," he said.
Key factors contributing to the retailer's success include strong digital sales, which were up 102% in the half and now represent 5.8% of all sales, as well as branded collections, which accounted for over a third (38.4%) of all sales in the period.
"All areas of the business have contributed to this outstanding performance, as the rhythm of the business and our strategic initiatives operated in unison," Bracken added.
"Furthermore, the disciplined in-store execution by our dedicated retail teams delivered impressive results during the critical last few weeks of December.
"These results reaffirm our continued focus on a balance of both margin and sales growth, underpinned by a number of our strategic initiatives - brand, digital transformation, loyalty, retail fundamentals, and product mix," he said.
Michael Hill closed out the half with a total of 289 stores in all markets.
During the period, the business' Melbourne stores reopened for trade, while some stores in South Australia and New South Wales were impacted. By the end of the half, all Australian stores were operating.
Meanwhile in Canada, 46 stores progressively closed during the period due to ongoing COVID-19 implications, with 40 stores trading at the end of the half.
"All of our global markets were directly impacted by the pandemic in the first half, and I would like to make special mention of our Victorian and now our Canadian teams, who have weathered extended periods of disruption for both themselves and their families," Bracken said.
"Considering the global challenges over the last year, I couldn’t be prouder of the dedication, energy and resilience consistently demonstrated by our teams, as we prioritise best-in-class health and safety protocols and continue to delight our loyal customers," he finished.