Wesfarmers has appointed expatriate West Australian business executive Dene Rogers as managing director of its retail chain, Target.
Mr Rogers is moving back to Australia from Canada, where he has been chief executive of retail giant Sears since 2006.
Prior to Sears Canada, Mr Rogers was based in Chicago as general manager of Sears-owned Kmart (USA), where he oversaw the operations of approximately 1,500 stores and US$18 billion of revenue.
Born in Kalgoorlie in 1960, Mr Rogers has worked in the United States, Canada, Japan, the U.K. and China, with previous employers including Starwood Hotels and GE Capital.
He has an MBA from Yale University and a Bachelor of Engineering from the West Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University).
Mr Rogers’ appointment results from a world-wide search to find a replacement for Launa Inman, who announced her decision to leave Target last month.
Wesfarmers Managing Director Richard Goyder said he was delighted Mr Rogers was joining Target as he had an outstanding record in the industry.
“We are extremely pleased to have attracted a person of Dene’s calibre,” Mr Goyder said.
“He has a track record of driving improved performance through innovation, has broad international experience, and also knows the Australian market.”
Mr Rogers said: “I am excited to be returning to Australia and to be joining Target, an icon of retailing with significant potential, and Wesfarmers, one of Australia’s premier companies.
The appointment takes effect from 2 November 2011.