Wesfarmers has today announced that Rob Scott will succeed Richard Goyder as managing director towards the end of this year.
Goyder steps down after 12 years in the role, during which time the conglomerate’s value has increased from $15 billion to around $50 billion – including the major acquisition of Coles Group in 2007.
Scott becomes the group’s deputy CEO effective immediately and will assume the MD role after Wesfarmers’ AGM in November, while continuing to head up the company’s Industrials division till July of this year.
“Rob has a proven capability to deliver improved business performance and to lead change through building great teams around him,” said Wesfarmers chairman, Michael Chaney. Scott started with Wesfarmers in 1993 before a stint in investment banking throughout APAC. He rejoined the company in 2004 and was later appointed MD of the group’s insurance division. In 2013 he became finance director of Coles.
It’s somewhat a changing of the guard at Wesfarmers, with retail veteran and head of Bunnings, John Gillam, also stepping down after 12 years in the role.
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