Shallow CEO pool

Takeovers of major industrial companies have thinned the pool of powerful chief executives in Western Australia.

The likes of BankWest, Burswood and Bristile have been swallowed up by larger companies, and Foodland is likely to go the same way after its board agreed to a plan to break up and sell the business to Metcash and Woolworths.

By far the largest industrial company based in Perth is Wesfarmers, which has interests spanning retail (Bunnings), mining, gas, and transport.

Richard Goyder takes over as chief executive next month, after 12 years with the company and three years as a director.

He has worked in the shadow of outgoing managing director Michael Chaney and it will take some time for Mr Goyder to stamp his personality on the company.

However, he has emphasised that he has no desire to move away from the formula that has served Wesfarmers so well over the past decade or more.

Alinta, headed by Bob Browning, is sometimes described as a future Wesfarmers, which is high praise.

A series of major acquisitions across Australia have transformed Alinta from a small gas utility to a significant player in the national energy market.

As chief executive, Mr Browning has played a key role in guiding that growth and he remains keen to keep on achieving rapid growth.

West Australian Newspapers has long enjoyed the steady profits that flow from owning Perth’s only daily newspaper, but has been criticised for its failure to pursue other strategic growth opportunities.

Managing director Ian Law, who joined the company in 2002, has completed several small media acquisitions but negotiated his first big deal last December, when WAN agreed to form a joint venture with Kerry Packer’s Publishing and Broadcasting to buy the Hoyts cinema businesss.

Mr Law also held merger discussions last year with publisher John Fairfax Holdings and said in a statement to the stock exchange that the potential benefits of a merger had been analysed “several times over the years”.

As well as running a substantial business, Mr Law exercises significant influence through his role in selecting the editor of The West Australian.

John Rothwell, the founder and executive chairman of shipbuilder Austal, is often feted as representing the future of manufacturing in Australia.

His company has become a leader in its chosen market of lightweight aluminum vessels, employing a skilled workforce to produce quality products that are globally competitive.

Other influential chief executives in Perth include David Singleton, who was recruited last year to run embattled engineering group Clough, merchant banker Mark Barnaba, who has a wide network of influence, and Tony Iannello, who is charged with the task of running Western Power while overseeing its break-up into four separate businesses.

CEOs

•           Bob Browning

            Alinta.

•           Richard Goyder

            Wesfarmers (from July 13).

•           Ian Law

            West Australian Newspapers.

•           John Rothwell

            Austal.

•           David Singleton

            Clough.

•           Mark Barnaba

            Azure Capital.

•           Tony Iannello