IN FOCUS
NAME: Mark Ronan
COMPANY: Adairs Retail Group
POSITION: CEO
LOCATION: Melbourne, Australia
There’s an old African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Boasting more than a century in business, it’s clear what path Adairs Retail Group has chosen. Founded in 1918 on Chapel Street in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran, Adairs has transformed from a humble, family-owned chain to a leading, specialty omnichannel retailer of homewares and furnishings. It has more than 160 stores spread across Australia and New Zealand, delighting customers with on-trend fashion products, quality staples, superior customer service and strong value. And CEO Mark Ronan credits the beloved retailer’s far-reaching success to “working together”.
“No one individual delivers an amazing business,” he says. “Our strength lies in great retailing and great product, none of which can be delivered by one person alone. Ultimately, your success is driven by the people around you.”
Mark has been with Adairs for more than a decade, working his way up from Finance Manager to Merchandise Planning Manager, Head of Retail Operations and COO before finally stepping into his current position as CEO in 2016. Throughout his time with the company, it became abundantly clear to him that being a leader is about more than the business; it’s about developing the team.
This story is from the January/February 2021 edition of The CEO Magazine - ANZ.
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This story is from the January/February 2021 edition of The CEO Magazine - ANZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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