The CEO of Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Paul Zahra has announced his resignation today, ending a near five year tenure at the end of 2024.
It comes as the association transitions to an amalgamated entity with the National Retail Association (NRA).
Zahra said the proposed amalgamation provides a natural exit point, allowing a successor to drive the new entity into the future.
“It has been an honour and privilege to lead our retail sector and the ARA team through the most challenging five-year period in the history of our sector,” he said.
“As the ARA progresses to amalgamate with the National Retail Association – a professional goal I have long advocated for – I believe I’ve completed what I set out to do for the industry. It’s now time for me to reset and refresh for new challenges and pass the baton to a successor who will lead the new entity into the future.”
ARA president Nicole Sheffield said during the past five years, Zahra has worked hard with the dedicated ARA Council and ARA team to build the ARA and the retail sector brand to a strong position of profile, power and political influence.
“Under Paul’s leadership, the ARA team have worked diligently to unify the sector, bringing most of Australia’s leading retailers into ARA membership for the first time alongside SMB members. Membership income has more than doubled in the past five years.
“We’ve set the political agenda on many fronts – from positive changes to Closing Loopholes and other reforms to improvements to retail crime legislation alongside leading events and many other industry initiatives. Thanks to Paul’s leadership, the foundations are in place for a powerful future,” Sheffield said.
Zahra said the ARA’s efforts alongside its members through the pandemic years helped ensure the resilience of the sector.
“It would be true to say this has been the most disrupted decade for retail in recent history – navigating the pandemic and global cost of living crunch, intense labour shortages, an unprecedented retail crime wave, supply chain disruption and the most intense set of industrial relations changes in decades,” he said.
“I am deeply proud that despite these challenges we stabilised the ARA’s financial position – turning it around from a financial risk to a position of historic financial security.
“Thanks to the incredible work of our team, the ARA Council, our loyal members and ARA partners, the ARA now stands as a leading business association and powerful body for retail.”
Sheffield said the recruitment process will commence immediately, whilst the transition to an amalgamated entity takes shape.