JB Hi-Fi chief executive Nick Wells has publicly explained the retailer’s decision to leave the Narta group on 31 December 2026 after 25 years of membership, saying the move reflects the company’s current size rather than a cost-saving agenda.
In his first public comments since the decision was announced, Wells said JB Hi-Fi and Narta had concluded together that the time was right to end the relationship. He attributed the timing to the scale of JB Hi-Fi’s organisation and said the separation would allow Narta to focus on supporting its members.
Wells acknowledged Narta’s role in JB Hi-Fi’s growth and thanked its team. He said the two organisations would work closely in the coming weeks to manage a smooth transition. Until the membership concludes at the end of 2026, he described JB Hi-Fi’s operations as unchanged.
After that date, the retailer expects to bring in-house some services that Narta previously provided. The comments address supplier questions about the buying function and data services managed by Narta, although the comments did not specify which services would move or how they would be resourced.
Wells also said the decision did not warrant an ASX announcement because it was not material from a listed-company perspective. He stressed that the exit was not motivated by obtaining more money, but by allowing both parties to focus on their futures.