If you’re an IT whizz with experience working for big retail businesses you can expect to be in high demand in the current jobs market. That’s certainly the case with Richard Zubrik who is set to leave his role Retail Executive role as Asos’s Technology Director to become Chief Technology Officer at Notonthehighstreet.com.
It’s easy to see why Zubrik’s CV made it to the top of the pile. Notonthehighstreet.com has a complex legacy IT system that it is looking to modernise and Zubrik has the technical skills to deliver. During his time at ASOS he led a move to microservices architecture and the cloud as well as a major platforming programme ahead of Black Friday 2016.
Zubrik also boasts seven years’ experience at Tesco where he latterly ran a transformation programme merging the retailer’s F&F and Direct businesses onto a single platform.
With a wealth of expertise in software development, programme and service management, Zubrik is well qualified to overhaul Notonthehighstreet.com’s IT systems and improve the online experience at what is a critical time in the brand’s development. The core UK business reported a 10% fall in sales to £36.6m in the year to March 2018, while gross sales through its website fell 12% to £144.9m, as marketing expenditure was cut to bolster profitability. Losses have narrowed as a result but the business, which has been in the vanguard of the marketplace trend for the past decade, needs to continue to innovate and improve if it’s to keep pace with rivals.
A period of management stability would also be welcome. The etailer was without a dedicated CEO for six months following the departure of Simon Belsham in September 2017 until Barrie Seidenberg took the helm in the spring.
E-commerce director Ollie Scheers left the business in June after less than 18 months in the job, while chief technology officer Richard Hilsey lasted just seven months before leaving in March. In fact, the CTO role has become something of a problem position for Notonthehighstreet.com with Hilsey’s predecessor Hugh Fahy exiting in February 2017 only a year after joining from Net A Porter. Jack Bolles took up the reins, as he was recruited on a Retail Executive Interim basis in August and will be replaced by Zubrik when he joins in January.
Capturing talent like Zubrik from a tech leader like ASOS is a good start for Notonthehgihstreet.com. Keeping hold of him and allowing him to work his IT wizardry is an essential next step!
