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David Jones Installs Erica Berchtold as CEO in Private‑Equity Led Reset

The owner has replaced the outgoing chief executive and secured a three-year Hilco loan to stabilise the retailer and fund a modernisation push.

Overview

  • Anchorage Capital Partners replaced Scott Fyfe with Erica Berchtold as chief executive, with the parties saying the change was a planned leadership transition reached by mutual agreement.
  • David Jones has been loss-making, reporting about $95 million in losses last year, leaving the business dependent on outside restructuring finance to continue trading.
  • The company announced a new three-year loan from turnaround lender Hilco, which provides cash and specialist restructuring support to underperforming retailers.
  • Berchtold, who joined last year as chief commercial officer and previously led The Iconic, says she will refresh merchandise, supply chains and the online-offline mix to modernise the business.
  • The move signals tighter owner control of governance and raises pressure on supplier relationships and store staff, with success likely to hinge on restoring supplier trust and improving cash flow.