Apple names Browett to lead retail biz

Apple Inc named the chief executive officer of the largest UK consumer-electronics retailer to run its stores, ending more than seven months of searching for an executive to oversee international expansion.

John Browett, 48, will start at Apple in April as senior vice president, the Cupertino, California-based company said in a statement on Tuesday. The hiring marks the first outside senior- executive appointment by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook. Browett replaces Ron Johnson, who left the world's most valuable technology company last year to become CEO of JC Penney Co.

Browett, who had been CEO of Dixons Retail Plc since 2007, will lead Apple's 361-store business as it builds more sites outside the U.S. Of the company's 40 new locations this year, 30 will be abroad. Apple is using the stores to fuel an expansion in China, where outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong are among the company's most trafficked locations. The company had 36,000 retail employees at the end of its last fiscal year.

"Retail is very important to Apple as a large proportion of their shipments, especially the iPad, is going through their own retail stores," said Tim Coulling, an analyst at U.K. researcher Canalys. Browett has the necessary experience with Apple products as Dixons Retail is a "critical reseller of Apple equipment," he said.

The U.K. retailer said in a separate statement that Browett would be replaced by Sebastian James, who has been with the company since 2008.