The long-serving chairman of retail landlord Stockland, Graham Bradley AM, will retire on October 26. Current board director and ex-CFO at Woolworths, Tom Pockett, will replace him as the new chair.

Bradley, who served as Stockland’s chair for 11 years and on the company’s board for 12 years, said he is “enormously proud” of what the Stockland team has achieved during his time as chairman.

“Stockland’s business is in excellent shape, with a first rate management team under the capable leadership of CEO and managing director Mark Steinert, so now is a good time for me to pass the baton of board leadership to my successor,” Bradley said.

According to Bradley, Pockett has brought “valuable qualifications” to the Stockland board and, over the past two years, has demonstrated “strong business judgement and leadership skills”.

Pockett, who joined the Stockland board in September 2014, served as Woolworths Limited’s chief financial officer for 12 years.

He was previously deputy chief financial officer at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and prior to that, held several senior financial roles with the Lend Lease Group.

At Stockland, Pockett has chaired the Audit Committee and is a member of the Risk and Sustainability Committees.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be elected chairman of the Stockland board,” Pockett said.

“Stockland is a truly great Australian property company with a well-considered strategy and a positive outlook for future growth. I intend to discharge my duties with the utmost diligence, working closely with the board and executive management team to continue to build on the success this company has established and built over many decades.”

During Bradley’s tenure on the Stockland board, the group’s market capitalisation has grown from around $6.6 billion in 2004 to around $11.75 billion at present.

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