Harding Retail appoints ex-Sydney Airport retail boss Glyn Williams as Senior Vice President, Asia-Pacific

ASIA PACIFIC. Cruiseline retail specialist Harding Retail has appointed former Sydney Airport General Manager, Retail Glyn Williams as Senior Vice President, Asia-Pacific, leading the company’s Australian operations.

Williams’ role will see him advance the company’s proposition, driving growth and innovation within the Australian market in which Harding Retail has operated for ten years.

Williams spent four and a half years in his Sydney Airport role, which he left at the end of January. There he was accountable for securing the airport’s duty free contract with Heinemann Asia Pacific, while also helping to reimagine the New South Wales gateway’s retail offering. This embraced the creation of the acclaimed T1 luxury precinct and the launch of a number of first to Australia and first to airport brands. Previous to this role, Williams held senior positions at shopping centre giants Westfield and Dexus.

The highly regarded Glyn Williams, pictured during his successful tenure at Sydney Airport, joins the burgeoning Harding Retail business as the cruiseline market continues to surge in the region.

Harding Retail Managing Director James Prescott said, “I am delighted to welcome Glyn to the Harding team, both in Australia and onto the executive team. Glyn’s passion for innovation and thinking outside the box make him the perfect strategic fit for the company and will further strengthen our talented cruise retail team.”

Williams commented, “Having kept a close eye on Harding Retail’s way of working – their thirst to push retail boundaries and deliver amazing shopping experiences – the move is a natural one. Thriving on delivering ‘firsts’, I’m looking forward to getting settled in Sydney and making a tangible difference within Harding.”

Harding has secured the services of a highly regarded retail executive. Commenting on Williams’ departure earlier this year, Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said, “Glyn leaves an incredible legacy from his four and a half years at Sydney Airport. Most significantly, he re-imagined our retail offering and created the T1 luxury precinct, the redevelopment at T2 and the attraction of first to Australia/first to airport brands such as Kitchen by Mike, Chur Burger and The Bistro by Wolfgang Puck.

“In addition to his passion for brands and retail, Glyn led the retail team to think bigger, drive harder and deliver more. Under Glyn’s leadership the transformation of Sydney Airport has been recognised as world leading, both in local media and international journals, including being awarded the best retail development of an airport globally in 2017. Glyn is an innovative thinker who is always looking to do more, and to do it differently, unconstrained by historical practice.”

 

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