Billabong taps former Nordstrom exec as finance head

Billabong has a new finance chief.



The board sports apparel retailer has named Jim Howell as CFO, effective June 12. He will replace Peter Myers, who has served in the role since January 2013. Howell has spent the last 10 years leading the finance and treasury division at luxury retailer Nordstrom. In this role, he oversaw significant cost management improvements, capital management and growth initiatives.



He played a key role in the implementation of Nordstrom’s omnichannel retailing strategy, which continues to deliver consistent financial performance. In fact, for the first fiscal quarter ended April 29, Nordstrom’s online sales accounted for 24% of total net sales during the period.



“Jim’s experience aligns particularly well with our areas of focus,” said Billabong CEO, Neil Fiske. “Our goal is to deliver long-term sustainable growth in a highly competitive retail environment and Jim will both work alongside me on this, while also providing me with an increased opportunity to connect with our global customers and stakeholders.”