Solomon Lew says there’s an “issue” behind  sales drop.

 

Former Smiggle boss John Cheston has refuted allegations related to intoxication, gambling, bullying and harassment, against a “mob” that included senior executives of the fashion stationery chain.

 

Cheston was fired last year by Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments over allegations of  “serious misconduct,” just nine months before he was due to depart and take over as chief executive at another company.

 

During a press briefing for Premier Investments’ recent FY25 trading update, which showed that sales at Smiggle fell , Lew said there was an ”issue” at Smiggle, which culminated in the termination of Cheston’s role. 

 

“It's a very unfortunate circumstance, as a result of people being paid to be at work but doing other things and spending time being intoxicated and gambling with staff in the organisation,” Lew said.

 

Cheston’s law firm Giles/George issued a statement on behalf of Cheston, saying he had declined Premier's offer to lead a separately listed Smiggle business and instead resigned to accept a CEO role for Lovisa, another publicly-listed retail company.

 

A spokesperson for Cheston said his decision to move to Lovisa appears to be what Premier is unable to move past, describing Lew’s allegations as a “rant” that was “simply untrue”.

 

Currently, John Bryce is running Smiggle as interim CEO, with a new CEO  yet to be named.

 

PHOTO: Premier Investments chairman Solomon Lew (left) with former Smiggle CEO John Cheston. Credit: SUPPLIED/PR IMAGE