David Jones has appointed former Myer chief financial officer Nigel Chadwick as its new finance chief, as the department store continues efforts to restore supplier confidence following months of payment disputes.

Chadwick will join the retailer on 24 August, replacing Clint May, who is stepping down after serving as chief financial officer since 2023. His appointment comes during a challenging period for David Jones as it works through a financial restructuring and seeks to repair relationships with suppliers.

The retailer has been under increasing scrutiny after proposing a 20-week repayment schedule to settle outstanding supplier invoices. The plan was introduced shortly after the company secured refinancing, but many suppliers had expected overdue accounts to be cleared more quickly following the new funding arrangement.

Chief executive Erica Berchtold, who took over the role in June, said Chadwick’s experience managing finance and transformation programs within major retail businesses would support the company’s recovery strategy and help strengthen supplier relationships.

Chadwick brings extensive retail experience to the position, having spent six years as chief financial officer at Myer before departing in 2024. More recently, he served as interim chief financial officer at Cue Clothing, a business owned by Hilco Capital, which is also a key lender to David Jones. Prior to entering retail, Chadwick spent 14 years with mining company BHP.

The leadership change follows a series of financial challenges for David Jones, which has been attempting to stabilise operations after refinancing its debt and implementing measures designed to improve cash flow ahead of the important summer trading period.

Berchtold has indicated that negotiations with suppliers are continuing and says the business is making progress towards normalising payment arrangements.

David Jones remains focused on executing its turnaround strategy as it works to improve financial performance and rebuild confidence among suppliers following an extended period of uncertainty.