Incoming DSGi group chief executive John Browett has vowed to pursue a customer-centric strategy and re-energise the electricals giant as he took the helm this week.

The former Tesco operations director, who started yesterday, said: “The strategy will absolutely start with the customer at the heart of all this and also the way in which we work with our staff. This has to be an energising place to work, so we can deliver for the customers.”

His clarion call will please investors and fuel speculation that a strong focus on customers could see some of the Tesco magic rub off on DSGi, which owns Currys and PC World.

Pali International analyst Nick Bubb said: “He needs to invest [in the UK] in improving staff knowledge – if you want to be a specialist, you need to be better than a generalist in terms of talking about the product.”

However, he warned that Browett’s “single biggest problem” will be tackling its ailing UniEuro electricals chain in Italy, where like-for-likes tumbled 8 per cent in the 24 weeks to October 13.

“He has to decide whether to tough it out for the three years or give up on a bad job,” he said.

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