SA-born Gail Kelly joins Woolworths Board – former CEO world’s 12th largest bank
From Woolworths:
The Board of Woolworths Holdings Limited has appointed Gail Kelly as a Non-Executive Director of the Company, with effect from 1 October 2015.
Gail has enjoyed an illustrious banking career spanning 35 years, split equally between South Africa and Australia. While in South Africa, Gail held a number of senior executive positions in the Nedbank Group.
Over the past 13 years, Gail has served as the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of two banks in Australia – St.George Bank from 2002 to 2007 and Westpac from 2008 to 2015. In 2008, these two banks came together under Gail's leadership in what was the largest in-market merger in Australian financial services. At the time of her retirement in February this year, the Westpac Group was the country's 2nd largest bank and the 12th largest bank in the world, in terms of market capitalisation.
Gail's current responsibilities include the international roles of being a Member of the Group of Thirty and the Global Board of Advisors at the US Council on Foreign Relations. She also serves as a Director of the Business Council of Australia and as the Ambassador for Women's Empowerment for CARE Australia.
Commenting on the appointment, Woolworths Chairman Simon Susman said, "We are thrilled that Gail is joining our Board. As our Group grows to become a major Southern Hemisphere retailer of scale, it is a real honour to have a world class mind such as Gail's to help us navigate the fast moving environment of global retail. After decades at the top of the corporate ladder in both of our major markets, I look forward to seeing the value her experience and perspective will bring to our Group."
Gail Kelly said, "I am very pleased to accept Simon's invitation to join the Board of Woolworths. Growing up in South Africa, I have always had a love for the Woolworths brand, and while in Australia, I have closely observed its growth path, including the acquisitions of Country Road and David Jones. I am looking forward to working with my fellow directors and the Woolworths team, both in South Africa and in Australia, to assist them on their ambition of becoming a leading Southern Hemisphere retailer."