Former Wesfarmers executive and prominent company director Gene Tilbrook has passed away at the age of 73 after battling serious illness in recent years.
Former Wesfarmers executive and prominent company director Gene Tilbrook has passed away at the age of 73 after battling serious illness in recent years.
“Gene passed away peacefully at home on Sunday 4 August after a courageous and dignified battle with serious illness in recent years,” his family said in a death notice published today.
Mr Tilbrook was with Wesfarmers for 24 years, joining in 1985 shortly after it listed on the ASX and helping to guide a period of rapid expansion.
He focused on acquisitions, finance and strategy before becoming executive director of business development in 2002 and finance director in 2005.
Mr Tilbrook resigned in 2009 and subsequently held non-executive board roles at a number of national companies.
Most recently he was a director at Woodside Energy and Orica until his retirement from both roles in February this year.
Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney paid tribute to Mr Tilbrook’s long standing and successful career at Wesfarmers and beyond.
He said Mr Tilbrook played a critical role during some pivotal moments in Wesfarmers history including the acquisition of Bunnings, Bengalla, Curragh and Coles.
"Through his outstanding commercial judgement, Gene made a huge contribution to Wesfarmers' success over three decades," Mr Chhaney said.
"He was a much-admired colleague and friend to many of us here at Wesfarmers.
“He made a tremendous contribution to the company at both a strategic and commercial level over many years and helped build the foundation of the group as it is today.”
Speaking in February, Woodside chair Richard Goyder said Mr Tilbrook had made an invaluable contribution over his 10 years on the company's board.
“The Woodside board has greatly benefited from Gene’s commitment and expertise and on behalf of the board, I’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Gene for his dedicated service to Woodside,” Mr Goyder said.
The company extended sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Tilbrook today.
“Gene was a highly respected contributor to the business community, particularly in Western Australia,” a spokesperson said.
“Gene will be remembered for his wise counsel and guidance to board and management across all aspects of Woodside’s business.”
Orica chairman Malcolm Broomhead also praised Mr Tilbrook at the time of his retirement.
“Mr Tilbrook’s extensive corporate development, finance and strategy experience has been invaluable to Orica’s board,” Mr Broomhead said.
Other companies where Mr Tilbrook was a director included GPT Group, Aurizon, Fletcher Building and Cleanaway.
He was also a councillor of Curtin University, WA president of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and its national deputy chair.
The AICD described Mr Tilbrook as a significant figure in WA’s director community and a tireless supporter and advocate of the organisation.
It highlighted his contribution to its policy and diversity work, including as a mentor in its Chairs Mentoring Program for six years.
“Gene took his own and other directors’ professional development very seriously and generously offered his time and experience, addressing many AICD events over the years,” the institute said.
Mr Tilbook had a keen interest in the arts, serving as a director of Bell Shakespeare Company and Perth Festival.
His early career was in information technology after studying mathematics and computer science.
He completed an MBA before beginning his long career with Wesfarmers.
The death notice states that Mr Tilbook was the beloved partner of Anna, father of Matthew and Paul, father-in-law of Pippa and Alison, stepfather of Joseph and Miranda, grandfather of Madeleine, Oscar, Felix, Eleanor, Thomas and Georgiana, and former husband of Rhondda.
“Our family will always treasure his deep commitment to and care for us, generosity of spirit, wise counsel and extraordinary zest for life,” it stated.
“We were blessed to have had him in our lives.”
Details of his funeral will be provided in the near future.
His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cancer Council WA.
