29 June 2016
Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers (WesCEF) Managing Director Tom O’Leary has resigned to take up the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Iluka Resources Limited (ASX:ILU).
Wesfarmers Managing Director Richard Goyder congratulated Mr O’Leary on his new appointment and on his contribution to Wesfarmers in his 16 years with the Group. Mr O’Leary joined Wesfarmers in Business Development and later became its Executive General Manager, before being appointed Managing Director of Wesfarmers Energy in 2009 and Managing Director of the newly formed WesCEF the following year.
“Tom’s enormous contribution to Wesfarmers included playing very important roles in the integration of Hardwarehouse into Bunnings, following the takeover of Howard Smith Limited, in 2000 and in the acquisition of the Coles Group in 2007,” Mr Goyder said.
“More recently, he has led the growth and improved the performance of our chemicals, energy and fertilisers business, including the completion of the major expansion of our ammonium nitrate production, within time and budget, and implementing a significantly increased focus and improved performance in safety.”
Ian Hansen, currently Chief Operating Officer of WesCEF, will remain in that role and report to Rob Scott, Managing Director of the Wesfarmers Industrials division. The division houses WesCEF, Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety and Wesfarmers Resources.
Mr Hansen has been with Wesfarmers for more than 30 years and has been Chief Operating Officer of WesCEF since 2014. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of Wesfarmers Chemicals and Fertilisers from October 2007 until it merged with the Wesfarmers Energy division, after which he became Chief Executive Officer, Chemicals.