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Well regarded: Derek Larsen has been appointed CEO, The Nuance Group (Australia), replacing Jann Fisch |
AUSTRALIA. In a major appointment, The Nuance Group today announced that Derek Larsen is to become CEO, The Nuance Group (Australia) Pty Ltd.
A well-known figure in the Australian airport retail industry, Larsen brings over 20 years’ experience to the position. He joins from Sydney Airport Corporation, where he held the position of General Manager, Retail for the airport’s extensive retail-to-food & beverage operations. He takes up his new role on 16 September, 2011.
Larsen replaces Jann Fisch, who will step down as CEO at the end of the year, having fulfilled a four-year commitment to supporting and growing Nuance’s Australian business. To guarantee continuity and a smooth handover to his successor, Fisch will continue to serve the Australian company as a board member, Nuance said.
The Nuance Group President & CEO Roberto Graziani said: “I look forward to welcoming Derek, and am confident that his strong industry knowledge and understanding of the domestic market dynamics will prove invaluable to our Australian operations going forward.
“I would also like to thank Jann for the contribution he has made to our Australian business over the past four years, which has included significant development of our retail offering in this market,” added Graziani.
Last year Nuance launched its largest duty free store to date, some 4,000sq m of retail space at Sydney Airport’s new Departures Precinct in Terminal 1. The company further boosted its presence in Australia, opening a new walk-through departure store of 2,500sq m at Melbourne. It addition to these retail operations Nuance also runs airport stores in Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra and Perth.
COMMENT: This surprise appointment is clearly very good news for Nuance though in pure airport company terms it removes one of that sector’s most progressive thinkers, leaving a gap that will be hard to fill, writes Martin Moodie.
Derek Larsen has been a constant, positive and challenging influence in recent years within travel retail’s wider “˜Trinity’ discussions (he has contributed much to various Trinity Forms both publicly and behind the scenes) and was a pivotal influence in the raising of the quality bar at Sydney Airport through its spectacular new commercial offer at the revamped International Terminal.
Numerous question marks have hovered over Nuance’s Australian operations in recent years as the company has struggled for profitability. This appointment seems an emphatic statement of intent and commitment to the market.
