Former Rebel GM of retail Tom Leak has taken on the lead retail role at JD Sports for Australia and New Zealand following Aaron Faraguna’s departure from the brand earlier this year.
Leak confirmed the news with Ragtrader, saying he is absolutely thrilled to be joining the global powerhouse.
“Working with Hilton Seskin, a retail industry legend and joining his star studded leadership team is a massive career highlight,” he said.
“Looking forward to bringing my years of retail experience to the brand and ensuring JD are the ‘go to’ brand for sports lifestyle in ANZ.”
Leak left Super Retail Group’s Rebel in late 2023 to take on the lead retail role at Coco Republic. He had been with Super Retail Group since 2013, running BCF for seven years prior to taking on Rebel in 2020.
His appointment comes as Faraguna jumped over to lead Best & Less as CEO, leaving his chief role at JD Sports ANZ.
It also comes as both sporting brands deal with the incoming market penetration of Sports Direct into ANZ. Sports Direct is a retailer housed under Frasers Group, who has just signed a strategic transaction with Australian footwear conglomerate Accent Group to run its local retail push.