7-Eleven has filled its vacant chief information officer chair, nearly three months after losing its long-time top IT executive Michael Peck to fashion giant Sussan.

Dennis Lewis started as 7-Eleven's new CIO today, bringing a strong background in retail to the convenience chain.

The executive was most recently the information management leader of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries' retail division, which incorporates brands such as Priceline, Price Attack and House.

"Prior to that, I was the group IT manager with Just Jeans, and prior to that with Myer, who actually brought me out here from the UK 20 years ago," Lewis told ZDNet Australia by telephone today.

His short-term priorities in the job would be to gather as much information as he could about 7-Eleven's operations, building up a picture of key issues to be tackled.

Lewis's appointment reduces the number of vacant CIO positions. However, there are other opportunities for top-level IT executives as the nation begins a new year, with at least nine large organisations currently hiring.