Brian Cumins

Brian Cumins, Cash Converters founder, began operating his first retail outlet in Perth in 1984. During the next four years the merchandising formula and trading style that has underwritten the groups success were developed and tested in the market place. In 1990 he led Cash Converters' expansion into other Australian States and a planned entry into Europe was launched in 1991 when the first store in the United Kingdom was opened. Cash Converters' first non-English speaking market, commenced with the opening of its pilot near Marseilles in France in 1994. In 1995, Mr Cumins handed over the executive reins of the company to his brother Peter, who had been with Cash Converters since 1990. In 1997, Cash Converters was listed on the ASX. Mr Cumins retired as chair in 2005, although he was already embroiled in a multi-million dollar legal fight with the tax office over investments in tax-effective schemes in the 1990s.