IRexchange, the Australian start-up that enables independent retailers and suppliers to deal and trade directly with one another, is appointing several new non-executive board members and executives.
The appointments include Andrew Clark, who will lead the business as CEO FMCG, and Corey Montry as Chief Financial Officer.
Mr Clark has extensive management, sales, marketing and operational experience in complex supplier and retailer businesses across multiple markets and channels, including Australia, the UK and US. His experience includes vice president Reckitt Benckiser and leadership roles at Cadbury Schweppes, Nestlé and Metcash. He will lead the day-to-day operations of the business.
Mr Montry has strong commercial skills and acumen developed through his global experience as a senior finance and accounting professional across diverse and complex industries, including FMCG (group financial controller, Metcash Trading), health (Melbourne Health) and automotive (group controller, General Motors Holden).
IRexchange says these appointments reflect the company’s continued growth and expansion in Australia, where it claims to be challenging the incumbent (independent) wholesale-distribution model and recently passed the milestone of servicing more than 350 independent retail stores.
“IRexchange began trading in January this year and inside the first ten months has received strong support from the market,” IRexchange CEO Clive Yoxall said. “As we accelerate execution, we recognise the need to introduce new skills and capabilities to facilitate the next evolution of our growth.”
The company also announced several non-executive board appointments: Non-Executive Director & Chair (Elect) Andrew Reeves (previously the chief executive of George Weston Foods, managing director at Lion Ltd and Coca-Cola Amatil), Non-Executive Director Suzanne Douglas (previously managing director, H.J. Heinz Australia, general manager, McPherson’s Consumer Products, and general manager Marketing Innovation and Special Projects, Devondale Goulburn), and Non-Executive Director John Armstrong (previously chief financial officer at SEEK Limited, plus management roles at Carlton & United Breweries).
Mr Yoxall said the board and executive appointments provide “enormous skills and capabilities that will help ensure we continue to evolve and grow the business”.
Further board appointments are planned for early 2018.