Page 8 - HW FEB 2021

hard news
Changes at the top for retailers & merchants
SINCE THE LAST magazine, Bunnings
NZ, Mitre 10 NZ and BuildLink have all announced changes to their executive teams which will have a material effect on their operations.
Bunnings NZ’s new names – Over
the past few months, Bunnings has appointed three new leaders to its New Zealand business. Each brings deep retail experience to the Kiwi marketplace and will strengthen Bunnings’ focus on its strategic agenda, says the company.
Ben Camire
Cameron Rist
Ben Camire is the new General Manager of New Zealand. Ben has more than 30 years’ global retail experience
in senior roles with Woolworths (in fact Masters Home Improvement), Lowe’s and Orchard Supply Hardware in the USA. Previously he was Bunnings’ Head of Stores in Australia where he helped steer the store network through the twin challenges of bushfires and COVID-19.
Cameron Rist is the new Head of Marketing & Merchandise for New Zealand. Cam has more than 20 years’ buying and merchandising experience. He has held several roles at Bunnings in both the Australian and New Zealand businesses spanning buying, planning, product development and managing large product categories. He started working
at his local Bunnings while he was completing his Commerce degree and has been with the company ever since.
Last but not least, Paul Connolly is the new Head of Trade New Zealand. Paul emigrated to New Zealand in 2010 with the Fletcher Group and worked
in various roles before joining the Bunnings team. Most recently he was Head of Organisations for Bunnings Trade in Australia. Paul was born in Edinburgh and started out his career in supermarkets before entering the trade and home improvement industry as GM for B&Q and Regional Director for Cemex.
www.bunnings.co.nz
Realignment at Mitre 10 NZ
– Although it was announced in September that Mitre 10 NZ CEO,
Chris Wilesmith, would be returning
to Australia, in December, following the slight easing of Trans-Tasman border restrictions, came the news that Chris
is continuing in his role and, together with the co-op’s realigned Executive Leadership Team (ELT), will continue driving the future-readiness of the business. In which respect, Mitre 10 NZ’s EMT now comprises:
• AndreaScown,ChiefOperating Officer & Customer Experience team leader.
• MatthewWashington,CFO. • ChrisPeak,GeneralManager
Solutions.
Chris Wilesmith
• Jules Lloyd-Jones, Chief of Customer Marketing & Inspiration.
• Derek Heard, General Manager Trade. • Grant Fraser, Chief Legal & Property
Officer.
• Phil Coster, CIO.
• Anna Campbell, Chief People &
Transformation Officer.
Find out more about Mitre 10 NZ’s new directions and plans for the future on page 18 of this issue.
www.mitre10.co.nz
New faces at BuildLink Group
– Following a round of changes
at BuildLink late last year, Simon Burden now heads up the group as General Manager.
Simon is well known for his seven years as General Manager of Trade for Grove Mitre 10 stores, before which he tallied 10+ years at Carters.
We are hoping to connect with Simon after BuildLink’s February conference
to find out more about some of the big changes at the Westgate support office in what many are labelling a watershed year for the operation.
Also new to the BuildLink Group Support Team is Erika Storm, who comes to the role of Marketing Coordinator armed with more than 15 years’ local and international experience in various roles. Having moved
north from Central Otago, Erika will handle BuildLink’s communications & marketing.
Completing the Westgate-based operation is Megan Cheshire, the BuildLink Group Support Team’s existing Financial Controller.
www.buildlink.co.nz
Paul Connolly
6 NZHJ | FEBRUARY 2021
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