WHAT: QUT Business Leaders' Forum - Wesfarmers Limited Group Commercial Director, Ian McLeod
WHEN: Thursday 28 August, 2014, noon-2pm
WHERE: The Grand Ballroom, Hilton Brisbane
INFO: https://www.qut.edu.au/business/about/events/qut-business-leaders-forum
One of the most powerful men in Australian retail will address the next QUT Business Leaders' Forum on Thursday, 28 August at the Hilton Brisbane.
Ian McLeod, the Group Commercial Director of Wesfarmers Limited and former Managing Director of Coles, has extensive experience with major retailers in Europe and Australia.
In his six years as MD of Coles, Mr McLeod oversaw a major turnaround in the company's fortunes, including a significant rise in sales revenue and earnings more than doubling.
Mr McLeod spent most of his career with British supermarket chain ASDA, where he was a member of the UK Management Board and the Executive Board of Wal-Mart Germany.
He joined Coles from major European retailer Halfords Group, which he served as Chief Executive.
As well as a strong retail history, Mr McLeod has a passion for sport. He spent two years as Chief Executive of Celtic plc, the listed company controlling Scottish football giants, Celtic, and in Australia is a director of A-League club Melbourne Victory and AFL club St Kilda.
In recognition of his business leadership and success in the retail industry, Mr Mcleod was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in his native Scotland from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Mr McLeod will speak about his personal leadership journey and share the leadership practices that have served him so well.
He will talk about the Coles customer-centric strategies that will continue to transform the Coles Empire and how the Wesfarmers Group is responding to the new world of retailing.
The Forum, which is sold out, will again be moderated by leading journalist Kerry O'Brien.
Mr McLeod will not be holding a press conference.
Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
