Myer claims it is simplifying middle management by cutting senior positions at the portfolio of clothing brands it acquired from Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments. As part of cost-cutting efforts, Myer will swing the axe on about 40 roles in the retail operations team at Just Jeans, Portmans, Dotti, Jay Jays and Jacqui E — collectively known as Apparel Brands — across Australia and New Zealand. The State general managers will report to the group head of Apparel Brands. A Myer spokesman said the move would simplify the network and reduce duplication as it integrated Apparel Brands, which was purchased from Premier Investments in a near-$1 billion deal last January. “Management of the Apparel Brands store network will be state based rather than by brand and is how many retailers globally manage their store fleet,” the Myer spokesman said.