Updated: Myer appoints a chief information and supply chain officer

Retail giant Myer has appointed a chief information and supply officer, a newly created role that will manage the online and supply chain parts of the business.

Richard Umbers, who is currently executive general manager of parcel and express services at Australia Post, will be responsible for Myer’s online systems, payment systems and supply chain. He will also be involved in the retailer’s loyalty programs and will help further develop its omni-channel offer.

“We are currently rolling out the next phases of our omni-channel order management system and progressing our online optimisation project,” a Myer spokesperson said.

“Developments in big data and the links between loyalty and omni-channel services are a significant part of understanding our customers, and it makes sense to have these areas sit under the one senior executive with particular strengths in these areas,” the spokesperson added.

Umbers’ experience mostly lies in supermarkets where he worked at Woolworths as general manager of buying marketing – GM customer engagement for four years, and as COO for Countdown Supermarkets for four years. He also worked at Aldi in the UK in executive and management positions for about nine years.

“In senior retail roles in New Zealand, he established successful online and loyalty programs,” Myer CEO Bernie Brookes said in a statement.

One of these loyalty programs was the Woolworths Everyday loyalty card program, said the Myer spokesperson.

“In his most recent role at Australia Post he has been responsible for the parcel and express services business, Startrack and e-commernce program that has successfully capitalised on growth of online shopping.”