Woolworths refreshes management team, reports say
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Woolworths has announced a slew of management changes, according to multiple reports, as the supermarket aims to increase its focus on fresh food and its own-brand product range.
This includes a sabbatical for long-serving supermarket and retail operations head Paul Harker until early next year. The moves were confirmed by a Woolworths spokesperson to Capital Brief.
The numbers: Woolworth shares had lifted 0.5% to $31.26 at 12:27pm AEST.
The context: Harker, who has worked for Woolworths for more than 32 years, will remain with the company according to a supplier note issued on Monday.
In the note, issued as chief executive Amanda Bardwells nears the end of her first year in the role, Woolworths retail boss Annette Karantoni said the company is sharpening its focus on fresh food and its own-brand product range.
This includes the appointment of Louis Eggar to lead a consolidated fresh food products portfolio, moving from his role as Woolworths Food Company Retail managing director.
Woolworths director for commercial acceleration and former WooliesX chief commercial officer Peter McNamara will lead and consolidate the grocery and everyday needs portfolios.
Woolworths New Zealand’s interim managing director Pieter de Wet will lead the own-brand product portfolio and a new 'fresh transformation' portfolio from January.
Meat supply chain business Greenstock will be integrated within the broader end-to-end meat portfolio that will be overseen by Justin Nolan, the current managing director for Woolworths’ Metro stores.
Greenstock managing director Anna Speer will leave the company later this month and director of store operations Jeanette Fenske will now oversee both supermarket and Metro operations.
The new appointments will report to Karantoni.
The sources: The Australian Financial Review, The Australian
