Apple’s New Retail Boss Pockets $60 Million on His First Day

Former Dixons Chief Operating Officer John Browett has officially taken up his role as senior vice president of retail at Apple.

Cult of Mac points out to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which reveals that Browett was awarded 100,000 stock shares (which translate into about $60 million at the current AAPL value) immediately after joining Apple.

Apple announced that John Browett would join the company as senior vice president of retail in January 2012. Browett replaces Ron Johnson, who decided to leave Apple and become the CEO of JC Penney last year.

Browett comes from European technology retailer Dixons Retail, where he has been CEO since 2007.

Beginning this month, he will be responsible for Apple’s retail strategy and the continued expansion of Apple retail stores around the world, according to Apple’s original press release.

Browett holds a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MBA from Wharton Business School. He will be reporting directly to Apple’s CEO, Timothy Cook.

“Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we’ve met,” said Tim Cook at the time Apple announced their initiative to take Browett aboard. “We are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his incredible retail experience to Apple.”

In an interview, Cook also said Browett was hired "to bring Apple to an even higher level of customer service and satisfaction," not to "bring Dixons to Apple."

Around the time of the announcement, MacRumors ran a story quoting a person who had met Browett at a PC World store and had been very impressed with his style.

The press release also revealed in January that Browett held various executive positions prior to joining Dixons Retail, such as at Tesco PLC, including CEO of Tesco.com.

“Earlier in his career he advised retail and consumer goods clients at Boston Consulting Group,” Apple said.