David Jones appoints Erica Berchtold as CEO, marks first female leader in 188-year history

Australian department store chain David Jones has appointed Erica Berchtold as chief executive officer, effective immediately, making her the first woman to lead the retailer in its 188-year history, according to multiple media reports.

Berchtold succeeds Scott Fyfe, who has served as CEO since October 2020. The leadership change forms part of a planned succession strategy agreed between Fyfe and the board.

David Jones owner Anchorage Capital Partners thanked Fyfe for steering the retailer through a period of significant transformation.

“Scott led the sale of the company to Anchorage Capital Partners in 2022, the separation from Woolworths Holding of South Africa and the first phase of the transformation program. We are fully appreciative of his efforts during complex times and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” a spokesperson for Anchorage Capital Partners said.

Retail veteran

Berchtold joined David Jones as chief commercial officer in May 2025 and brings extensive experience in retail, digital commerce and business transformation.

Before joining the department store chain, she served as chief executive officer of Mosaic Brands and previously led THE ICONIC, helping establish it as one of Australia and New Zealand’s leading online retailers. She also held the role of managing director at Rebel Sport.

Berchtold currently serves on the Australia Post/NORA Consumer Advisory Group and has previously held leadership positions with the Australian Retailers Association, the Australian Sporting Goods Association and Sydney FC.

INSPIRE30 strategy

As CEO, Berchtold will lead the execution of David Jones’ new five-year INSPIRE30 transformation plan, focused on improving operational efficiency, strengthening margins, enhancing the retailer’s commercial portfolio and modernising customer experiences across stores and digital channels.

“It is a tremendous honour to be appointed CEO of David Jones, one of Australia’s most iconic retail brands with a proud 188-year history. The refinancing allows us to stabilise and reset the business with a strong focus on growing our strategic core and modernising our technology and digital platforms,” Berchtold said.

“My aim is to further improve customer experience by curating our brand so that our strategy is aligned with our core values and the needs of our customers. I plan to lead our incredible team of people with decisive and results-oriented action.”

Refinancing completed

Alongside the leadership announcement, David Jones confirmed the completion of a new three-year asset-backed lending facility with Hilco Capital.

The refinancing is designed to strengthen the retailer’s balance sheet, provide greater financial flexibility and support future growth initiatives, supplier partnerships and technology investments.

Hilco managing director and head of capital solutions, Lewis McMenamin, expressed confidence in the retailer’s future direction.

“David Jones is well positioned for a new growth phase and will be well led by incoming Chief Executive Officer Erica Berchtold,” McMenamin said.

An Anchorage Capital Partners spokesperson added: “The ABL facility supported Anchorage through this initial phase. We are pleased to be working with Hilco under a different capital structure to support the next phase.”

Outgoing CEO reflects

“The board of David Jones and I have reached a mutual agreement to conclude my tenure as CEO of David Jones as part of a management succession plan,” Fyfe said.

“Over the past five and a half years it has been an honour to lead the business through some of the most challenging times starting in Covid, through change of ownership and significant transformation across the business, delivering growth. I am proud of the culture and values that we have established and all of our achievements.”

Fyfe said the transition had been agreed as part of a long-term succession plan and reflected on his five-and-a-half years leading the retailer.