John Gillam is stepping down as CEO of hardware chain Bunnings after 12 years in the role, parent company Wesfarmers confirmed in a statement today.

Gillam, who has been with Wesfarmers for nearly 20 years including as chairman of Officeworks for eight years, will move into an advisory role at the hardware chain.

Bunnings ANZ managing director Mike Schneider and Bunnings UK and Ireland MD Peter Davis will now report directly to Wesfarmers MD Richard Goyder.

“John has worked in our business development team, been chief financial officer of Bunnings, company secretary of the Wesfarmers Group and managing director of CSBP, before taking over as leader of Bunnings in 2004,” said Goyder.

“In every role he has been outstanding and left an indelible and positive legacy. His performance at the helm of Bunnings has seen him now recognised as one of Australia’s leading retailers and Bunnings is now a national institution.

“The recent acquisition of Homebase in the UK and Ireland has provided our company with a new platform for long-term future growth,” he said.

Gillam will continue to chair the Bunnings Group Council, which was set up at the time of the Homebase acquisition to coordinate Bunnings activity across all markets, and will also join the Bunnings United Kingdom and Ireland advisory board.

Goyder said before Wesfarmers spent “many months bedding down a new Bunnings management structure” before it acquired the Homebase business earlier this year.

“That structure, which has now been in place for almost a year, is serving the business well and we look forward to John’s ongoing contribution in his new more flexible advisory role,” he said.

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