Coles Group Limited (ASX:COL)

James Graham has extensive business, investment, corporate and governance experience, including as a Non-executive Director of Wesfarmers Limited for 20 years, prior to his retirement in July 2018. James is Chairman of Gresham Partners Limited, having founded the Gresham Partners Group in 1985.

From 2001 to 2009, James was a Director of Rabobank Australia Limited, initially as Deputy Chairman and then Chairman, and was responsible for the Bank’s operations in Australia and New Zealand. He was also Chairman of the Darling Harbour Authority between 1989 and 1995, and was previously Managing Director of Rothschild Australia Limited. In 2008, James was made a member of the Order of Australia.

James contributes depth of experience to the Coles Board, with expertise in business strategy, risk management, property development and finance and brings a deep understanding of regulatory and public policy across diverse and highly regulated industries.

Leah joined Coles in 2011 and has held several senior roles across the business. Most recently, Leah was Chief Executive, Commercial and Express, leading the Supermarkets and Coles Express business units. Before this, Leah was Chief Financial Officer and played a leadership role in the demerger of Coles from Wesfarmers in 2018. Leah has also held roles as Director Strategy, Director People & Culture, State General Manager Victoria Operations, and General Manager Merchandise, Strategy and Innovation.

Prior to joining Coles, Leah worked at McKinsey & Company, advising large private and public sector clients, and Foster’s Group in Strategy and Business Development.

Leah has a deep understanding of the retail and FMCG industry with experience across strategy, product merchandising, sourcing and development, supply chain, marketing, supplier relationships and sustainability initiatives.

Peter Allen is currently a director of Built Group Holdings Pty Ltd and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

From 2014 to 2022, Peter served as the inaugural Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Scentre Group, having been appointed following the restructure of Westfield Group. Prior to Scentre Group, Peter held various executive positions within the Westfield Group over an 18-year career, including Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Westfield Group, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Westfield UK/Europe. Peter has also held leadership positions at Citibank in Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States.

Peter brings to the Board his significant experience as a former Chief Executive of a major ASX-listed company, as well as his extensive background and expertise in property development, acquisition and management, and engagement with large Australian retailers.

Terry Bowen is currently a non-executive director of global technology ecommerce business, Rokt Inc., and is also Chair of the Operations Group at Australian private equity company BGH Capital. He is a former non-executive director of BHP Group Limited and Transurban Group Limited.

Terry previously served as Finance Director of Coles (2007 to 2009), Finance Director of Wesfarmers Limited (2009 to 2017) and Managing Partner and Head of the Operations Group at BGH Capital (2018 to 2019). Terry was also formerly Managing Director of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety, Chief Financial Officer of Jetstar Airways, Finance Director of Wesfarmers Landmark, and before this held senior finance roles with Tubemakers of Australia Limited.

As well as financial, retail, strategic and operational expertise from his leadership roles in some of Australia’s leading businesses, Terry brings significant risk management and governance experience to the Coles Board.

Jacqueline Chow is a Non-executive Director of nib Holdings Limited and Charter Hall Group. Jacqueline is also a Director of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce of New South Wales and a Senior Advisor at McKinsey Consulting RTS.

Jacqueline was previously a Non–executive Director of Boral Limited and from 2016 to 2019, a Director of Fisher & Paykel Appliances. Jacqueline previously held senior management positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Global Consumer and Food Service, with Fonterra Cooperative Group, one of the world’s largest dairy product producers and exporters. Prior to that, Jacqueline was in senior management with Campbell Arnott’s and Kellogg Company. She was also Programme Steering Group Director, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand and Deputy Chairman of the Global Dairy Platform Inc. Jacqueline’s background and experience in the FMCG industry brings operational insights in relation to managing complex supply chains as well as customer experience, brand reputation and sustainability.

Abi Cleland is currently a Non-executive Director of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, Computershare Limited and Orora Limited (until 30 September 2024). She was previously a Non-executive Director of Sydney Airport Corporation Limited, Chairman of Planwise AU, a Director of Swimming Australia and on the Lazard PE Fund advisory committee. From 2012 to 2017, Abi established and ran an advisory and management business, Absolute Partners, focusing on strategy, mergers and acquisitions and disruption. Before that, she held senior management roles at KordaMentha’s 333, where she was Managing Director, and at ANZ Banking Group Limited, Incitec Pivot Limited and Amcor Limited.

Abi brings significant experience in the areas of strategy, digital and M&A across a range of sectors, as well as insights in relation to assessing opportunities in technology, digital disruption and innovation.

Richard Freudenstein is the Chairman and a Non-executive Director of Appen Limited as well as a Non-executive Director of REA Group Limited (where he was Chairman from 2007 to 2012). He is a board member of Cricket Australia and is Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney.

Richard was previously Chief Executive Officer of Foxtel (2011 to 2016), Chief Executive Officer of The Australian and News Digital Media at News Ltd (2006 to 2010), and Chief Operating Officer at British Sky Broadcasting plc (2000 to 2006). His previous board positions include Ten Network Holdings Limited (2015 to 2016), Foxtel (2009 to 2011) and Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (2016 to 2019).

Richard has extensive leadership experience in global media and digital businesses, and brings a deep understanding of managing complex businesses operating in regulated industries.

Andy Penn is a Senior Advisor with McKinsey & Company and TPG Capital Asia and a Special Advisor to Quintessence Labs. He is a member of the Advisory Board of REDSPICE of the Australian Signals Directorate and of the Advisory Board of Glow Financial Services, a member of the Quad Investors Network of the American Frontier Fund and the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria. Andy also is a Life Governor of Very Special Kids, and a member of the Advisory boards of The Big Issue Home for Homes and JDRF.

From 2015 – 2022, Andy was Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Telstra and was also previously Telstra’s Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive International.

Prior to joining Telstra, Andy spent 23 years with AXA. From 2006 to 2011, he was the Group Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. Andy has had an extensive career across telecommunications and technology and financial services and brings deep understanding of the risks and opportunities arising from technology, digital disruption and cyber security.

Scott Price commenced as Group Chief Executive of DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited on 1 August 2023, having retired in early 2022 as Executive Vice-President; President of UPS International.

Scott was also previously UPS’s Chief Strategy until 2017 and Transformation Officer and was responsible for strategic planning, Global Business Services and the company’s Advanced Technology Group. From 2009 to 2015, Scott led Walmart’s Asia store business before moving to the United States to lead global sourcing, international technology, real estate and strategy until 2017. He was also previously President and CEO of DHL Asia and then DHL Europe and began his career at The Coca-Cola Company in Asia.

Scott is a director of the Consumer Goods Forum and is also a former board member of the not-for-profit World Food Program USA.

Scott’s extensive retail and FMCG experience provides valuable insights and a global perspective, particularly in relation to complex supply chains, business transformation and sustainability initiatives.

Wendy Stops is the Chairman of Fitted for Work, Deputy Chancellor and Council member at the University of Melbourne, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Melbourne Business School’s Centre for Business Analytics, a member of Kearney's ANZ Advisory Board and a member of the AICD’s Governance of Innovation and Technology Panel.

Previously, Wendy was a member of the Expert Advisory Committee to the Digital Technology Taskforce of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and a senior management executive in the information technology and consulting sectors. This includes her last 16 years with Accenture in various senior leadership positions in Australia, Asia Pacific and globally.

Wendy’s board experience includes Blackmores Limited (where she was Chairman from 2022 until its sale in 2023), Commonwealth Bank of Australia Limited, Altium Limited, Accenture Software Solutions Australia and Diversiti. Currently, Wendy is a member of Chief Executive Women, serving on their Leaders Program Committee.

Wendy brings to the Board expertise in large-scale technology transformations and innovation, as well as experience in designing and implementing comprehensive risk management frameworks.