All change in the Red Sheds

Founding Warehouse director Glen Inger has stepped down, allowing chief executive Ian Morrice to tighten his grip on the Red Sheds as he brings in new lieutenants.

Inger, who has been with the discount retailer for 17 years and played a key part in building the business, will leave the board and his job as chief executive of the domestic Red Shed operation.

The company said he had assumed the role temporarily until Morrice, who joined The Warehouse in October, was established as group chief executive.

Inger said it felt like the "right time" to go after 24 years in retail.

He wanted to pursue personal interests such as his farms and a forestry operation.

He had stayed slightly longer than he had intended to fill a gap created when the former head of the Red Sheds, David Wilson, quit in August.

"I'm comfortable with the direction that has now been set under Ian's leadership." he said.

"We've got others coming through the business, internal and external, and it just felt like the right time." Inger and his wife own about 2 per cent of The Warehouse, and he said they had no plans to sell.

"I see it as a very good investment and that's where I'll be leaving it."

Morrice's move to bring in four new senior executives was yesterday being read by fund managers as a sign that he was putting his personal stamp on the management team.

"Clearly he's been given board approval to implement his thoughts, his policy, his style," Tyndall fund manager Rickey Ward said.

"He's surrounded himself with people he thinks will be able to do the job,"

Morrice said Inger's resignation gave him the opportunity to provide "hands-on" direction to the Red Sheds business.

The new appointments were intended to add skills to the company, particularly in grocery and supply chain management.

"These people add new capability the business doesn't have," he said.

Morrice worked with Richard Lewis, who will be general manager store operations for The Warehouse, at the 800-plus store general merchandise retailer Woolworths in Britain.

He said John Durkan would bring valuable supermarket experience to his new role as general manager of The Warehouse's grocery and consumables business.

Eileen Chuang, who was most recently responsible for obtaining goods from Thailand for US giant Wal-Mart, would head the Shanghai office as direct sourcing manager for The Warehouse.

Gary Ewan would become strategic sourcing and procurement manager.

He will spearhead a supplier management plan under which the Warehouse has asked suppliers for discounts.

Morrice said Ewan's appointment would show the seriousness of the company's intentions.

The market welcomed the newcomers and Warehouse shares rose 8c to close at $4.37.

One analyst, who did not want to be named, said the calibre of the recruits was impressive. This was vital, as the business had reached a pivotal stage.

"The Red Sheds are at a point where the market has become mature and they've got to become very savvy to keep going," he said.

"These people have worked in the right space, in general merchandise. They're the sort of individuals you would hope to see the Red Sheds attract."

It was to Morrice's credit that he had been able to recruit them.

"Ian Morrice has a very strong reputation in the UK ... that must have been a factor in him being able to bring those individuals to New Zealand."

Morrice will become chief executive of The Warehouse New Zealand in addition to his group responsibilities on March 1 and Inger will leave on May 6.

The new red-shirts

Richard Lewis: Former head of operations for non-food operations at British supermarket chain Sainsbury's. Joined February 1.

John Durkan: Former trading director of merchandise for British grocery chain Safeway Stores. Joins May.

Eileen Chuang: Held senior management roles in Asia and the US for Wal-Mart, Gap and Littlewoods. Joined January.

Gary Ewen: From Goodman Fielder New Zealand. Has had senior procurement experience for Toshiba, Honeywell and Hewlett Packard. Joins March.