30 April 2018
MARK WARD TO RETIRE FROM OFFICEWORKS
Mark Ward has announced his intention to retire as Managing Director of Officeworks, Australia’s largest retailer and supplier of office products and solutions.
Mr Ward said that after 11 years in the position, the time was right for someone else to take up the baton and ensure the business continues to grow and prosper for the benefit of shareholders and the Officeworks team.
“Collectively we have come a long way on our purpose of ’helping to make bigger things happen’, but we still have much to do in an ever changing and highly competitive environment,” Mr Ward said.
“I am very confident that, with the quality of Officeworks’ team and the plans now in place, Officeworks can continue to grow and be successful.”
Wesfarmers’ Managing Director Rob Scott said Mr Ward had been outstanding in his role at Officeworks. He had brought Officeworks seamlessly into the Wesfarmers Group following the company’s takeover of the former Coles Group businesses in 2007.
“Mark has been a highly valued member of our leadership team,” Mr Scott said. “He has been a brilliant leader of Officeworks in a distinctively quiet and unassuming way.
“Officeworks has been an incredibly successful retailer for many years. In an industry sector where many of the competitors have struggled or disappeared, Officeworks has gone from strength to strength.”
“Mark is held in extremely high regard, not just in Wesfarmers, but in the wider Australian business community.”
Mr Scott said Mr Ward would remain in the role until the end of this calendar year while the process to appoint his successor is finalised and to ensure a smooth transition. Beyond then, he will remain with the Wesfarmers Group working on a number of projects.
These will include membership of the newly-formed Wesfarmers Advanced Analytics Advisory Board, membership of the Bunnings Australia and New Zealand Board and leading a Group-wide safety improvement project.
A search for Mr Ward’s successor has commenced, which will consider external and internal candidates.