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BREAKING: Wesfarmers sacks Homebase bosses

Published: 2 March 2016
Homebase's new owner Wesfarmers has culled a large proportion of the retailer's management team, according to reports.
BREAKING: Wesfarmers sacks Homebase bosses
According to Retail Week, a number of directors were removed from their roles at Homebase following Wesfarmers' £340m takeover of the business on Monday. According to reports, people leaving the business include managing director Echo Lu, commercial director Paul Emslie, retails operations director Ewan McMahon and marketing director Chris McDonough.

A representative for Wesfarmers said that the company was not commenting on the departures, but did release a statement regarding a new management structure following the completion of the Homebase purchase.

"A new management structure will be put in place at Bunnings to drive continued strong performance in the existing operations and effectively implement the Homebase acquisition plans," it said.

The management structure statement confirms John Gillam as chief executive officer of Bunnings, with management teams established in the two distinct operational regions (being the UK/Ireland and Australia/New Zealand).

In the UK the managing director of Bunnings will be Peter "PJ" Davis, and finance director will be Rodney Boys.

A representative from Home Retail Group declined to comment on the story.

Comments

02 March 2016 00:07:00
By A Redundant Homebase colleague
Well well, I think its called Karma?? Serves them all right. Fat Cats sitting in their comfortable seats, driving expensive company cars whilst the rest of us pulled out our tripes to meet budgets and keep us in jobs. Well the store I was in was one of the ones that was closed. Over 30 dedicated staff who knew the business inside out, who put money in the till and who did it because they loved their job. Where did it get us? The job centre that's where.
Well the fat cats will have enough of a pay out never I guess to even darken the door of the job centre, at least now I am pleased that they have got the heave-ho too! They took us to the cleaners. Removed all premiums, removed Nectar points and even Bank Holiday overtime pay! I love your comment Store Manager, how true. It was a regional manager who strolled in, told us we were closing and strolled out again. Well good riddance to them all, good luck to Bunnings, I bet they put the right people in the right places. Goodbye Fred Carno's circus and all the clowns that ran it!
02 March 2016 00:06:00
By Gill Jackson
Within the many broken stores there are a lot of passionate consultants who have battled through peak without the support needed, we all have hope that Bunnings will bring new direction and positive directorship
02 March 2016 00:05:00
By Bambo
Have to agree with all said so far. For too long we have had to put up with clueless no retailers and a management team of dullards with no concept of what retail is.....sling your hooks.You wont be missed with all your KPIs statistics of made up nonsence and grovelling (regional managers). McMahon didnt last long ! and is an unfortunate casualty but most of the rest couldnt tell a screw from a nail
02 March 2016 00:04:00
By Texas Tom
Its going to be interesting times ahead for sure. A lot of the Homebase Management ( Not Store) wont be used to the direct Aussie way of doing things and the fradulant ones who smarm and shimmy with their smoke and mirrors will be expecting a call.For years now ever since Rob and Stan moved on Homebase has been run by Regional Managers and a board obsessed with management speak and "visions" that dont actually have a view.The customer has been let down by poor levels of unhappy staff and a middle management that did not support the staff.A lot of these Regional people left in the Summer of 2015 and wont be missed. Some are now working in local government and Banking where thier dull autocratic ways will be more welcome. For the rest of you - and you know who you are....G'Day your time is almost up !
02 March 2016 00:03:00
By whisper
Agreed , now follow up with the next layer then settle things down , lots of promise from the new team , just want to see it happen . Shame that Echo left , she seemed to starting teh change process but its tough at the top.
02 March 2016 00:02:00
By Store manger
Got to agree with Baseworker. What a start! There is more dead wood in the field in way of hangers on that have helped drive the business into the ground. Colleagues and store leadership teams are worn out with the recent cost saving initiatives and stores are almost broken. Great to see the Bunnings guys at last weeks conference with their great attitudes and passion for the business. Their interaction and honestly was infectious. Funny seeing the Divisional and regional managers squirming.
02 March 2016 00:01:00
By Baseworker
What a fantastic start to their ownership, getting rid of the Board is a line in the sand, and makes it clear things are changing and fast, not something the old guard at Homebase are used to, I hope the next move is to get shot of all the dead wood at the Base, I think the new guys seam to understand the difference between workers and those that talk the talk but don't do the walk, Ian sure there will be a few of the old guard going off sick with stress as soon as the heat gets turned up, at last some people that really want to be successful, bring it on

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