Perth, Australia, 2017-May-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — Wesfarmers today (29 May 2017) announced three senior executive appointments as part of the Group’s leadership transition next financial year.
Wesfarmers Deputy Chief Executive Officer and incoming Managing Director Rob Scott said he was pleased to be able to confirm the important leadership roles in advance of succeeding Richard Goyder as Managing Director in November 2017.At a Group level, Anthony Gianotti will be the next Wesfarmers Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Finance Director Terry Bowen, who will step down later this year after nearly nine years in the role and 12 years on the Wesfarmers leadership team.Mr Gianotti will become the Group’s Deputy CFO, effective 1 July 2017. He is currently Deputy Managing Director and Finance Director of the Wesfarmers Industrials division.
Mr Scott said Mr Gianotti had shown himself to be an outstanding executive in key senior roles across the Group, including as Finance Director and Managing Director of the Insurance division before its divestment in 2015. In August 2015, Mr Gianotti was appointed Finance Director of the new Wesfarmers Industrials division, which brought together the Group’s three industrial businesses: Resources; Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers; and Industrial and Safety.
“Anthony will bring extensive experience in senior financial and commercial roles across the Wesfarmers Group, is deeply invested in Wesfarmers’ values and focus on sustainable shareholder returns, and has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership in business improvement,” Mr Scott said.
Mr Goyder and Mr Scott paid tribute to Mr Bowen’s contribution to Wesfarmers over more than 20 years with the Group, including as Finance Director of Landmark, Managing Director of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety, and Finance Director of Coles in the period immediately after it was acquired by Wesfarmers in 2007.
“Terry has been pivotal to Wesfarmers’ growth and success over the past two decades, and is a trusted and brilliant colleague who is rightly considered to be one of the most outstanding senior executives in this country,” Mr Goyder said.
Mr Bowen said it had been an honour and a privilege to be part of the Wesfarmers Board and executive team and to work closely with so many talented people over the years.
“We’ve nurtured great depth of talent in the Group and our balance sheet is in great shape, which positions the Group well for the future,” Mr Bowen said. “I look forward to working with Anthony on a smooth transition in the coming months before pursuing new opportunities outside Wesfarmers.”
Industrials
Wesfarmers also announced that David Baxby has been appointed Managing Director of the Industrials division, effective August 2017, succeeding Mr Scott. Mr Baxby is a former President and Chief Executive Officer of international shopping transaction processing business Global Blue and a former Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Group Ltd, the holding company of Sir Richard Branson.
Mr Scott said he was delighted to welcome Mr Baxby to the Group Executive Leadership Team and looked forward to working with him to further develop and grow Wesfarmers’ non-retail businesses.
“David brings a wealth of international experience across a range of industry sectors that strengthens our Group leadership team,” Mr Scott said. “His strong commercial expertise and track record in business development will further support the performance and growth of our Industrials portfolio.”
Bunnings
Rounding out the executive changes, Michael Schneider, currently Managing Director Bunnings Australia and New Zealand (BANZ), has been promoted to Managing Director, Bunnings Group, replacing John Gillam who stepped down from the role in December 2016. Mr Schneider will retain responsibility for BANZ.
Bunnings United Kingdom and Ireland (BUKI) Managing Director Peter Davis will now report to Mr Schneider, and Mr Scott will chair the BUKI Steering Committee. Mr Gillam continues to support the Bunnings business in an advisory role including as Chairman of the Bunnings Group Council.
Anthony Gianotti
Anthony was appointed Deputy Managing Director of the Wesfarmers Industrials division on 14 February 2017, while continuing as Finance Director of the division, a role he has held since August 2015.
Anthony started with Wesfarmers in January 2004 as a Business Development Manager and in 2005 was appointed Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Planning. He was appointed General Manager of Strategy and Business Development of Wesfarmers Insurance in December 2006, and became Finance Director of that division and an Executive Director of a number of subsidiary boards in April 2009. Anthony was appointed Managing Director of Wesfarmers Insurance in July 2013.
Before joining Wesfarmers, he held senior corporate finance roles with SG Hambros Bank in Sydney and London after starting his career at Ernst & Young.
Anthony holds a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from Finsia and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. He completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in 2014.
David Baxby
David Baxby has been a Non-executive Director of Virgin Australia since 30 September 2004, is Chairman of Frontier Digital Ventures Limited and a Non-executive Director of Unlockd Limited, WorkPac Limited and Velocity Frequent Flyer and its subsidiaries. David is also a Councillor of Bond University.
Previously, David was the Global Chief Executive Officer and President of Global Blue and the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Group Ltd, Sir Richard Branson’s holding company. His past Directorships include Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Money Australia, Virgin Mobile Australia, Virgin Holidays Ltd, Virgin America Inc and Air Asia X. David was also an investment banker for nine years with Goldman Sachs. David holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws from Bond University.
Mike Schneider
Mike Schneider was appointed Managing Director Bunnings Australia and New Zealand in January 2016, following the announcement of Bunnings’ acquisition of the Homebase business in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Mike has been with Bunnings for more than 10 years in a range of senior operational roles, including as Director of Store Operations. Before joining Bunnings, he worked at senior levels in the retail and financial services sector. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of NSW and has completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD, and the Advanced Strategic Management Program at IMD.
For further information:
Media Investors
Cathy Bolt
Media and External Affairs Manager
+61 8 9327 4423 or +61 417 813 804
cbolt@wesfarmers.com.au
Aleksandra Spaseska
General Manager
Investor Relations
+61 8 9327 4416 or +61 488 911 678
aspaseska@wesfarmers.com.au
Source: Wesfarmers Market