Woolworths new CEO set to take charge of supermarket giant

Her first job was at the local food store on the outskirts of Brisbane aged 14 and Amanda Bardwell is considered a steady pair hands for one of the biggest jobs in corporate Australia.

Incoming Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell will rely on her lifelong experience around the grocery retailers as she prepares to take on one of the biggest jobs in corporate Australia at a time when the company faces a series of inquires into food pricing practises.

Named on Wednesday as the replacement for Brad Banducci, when he retires after eight-and-half years as chief executive and 13 years with the company, Ms Bardwell has worked with the company for 23 years including most recently as the managing director of WooliesX.

Starting from September 1, Bardwell will be paid $2.15m a year including superannuation in her new role, as well as short-term bonuses of up to $3.23m and long-term bonuses of nearly $3.7m if approved by shareholders.

Those within Woolworths consider Ms Bardwell to be a steady pair of hands who is always across her brief and someone who understands the ins and outs of what makes the company tick, having been on various committees and undertakes frequent visits to bricks and mortars outlets.

Woolworths Group Chair Scott Perkins described Ms Bardwell as a proven leader, business builder and modern retailer, who was best placed to help the giant achieve its full potential going forward.

“Under her leadership, WooliesX has gone from infancy in 2015 to a $7bn market leading business,” he said.

“Amanda is highly respected throughout the organisation and I know, like Brad, will live our purpose and work hard to achieve Woolworths Group’s full potential.”

Ms Bardwell was born and raised in the semirural suburb of Samford, 20kms north of Brisbane, where she took on her first job at the local food store aged 14 years and 9 months where she did everything from check-outs to stocking shelves.

She later graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Business, Marketing, and later gained an MBA from University of New South Wales.

Current Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci with incoming Woolworths Group CEO Amanda Bardwell

In 2001, Ms Bardwell moved from Queensland to Sydney where she joined Woolworths as a research and development business manager and in 2004 was promoted to head of marketing for Woolworths’ supermarkets, liquor and petrol businesses. She was appointed managing director of WooliesX for the Woolworths Group in May 2017.

WooliesX combines Woolworths’ digital, e-commerce, data and Everday Rewards loyalty scheme, as well as direct-to-boot, same-day pick-up and delivery orders.

The division is based in inner city Sydney suburb of Surry Hills — far away from the group’s HQ in Bella Vista — and has been a powerhouse for Woolworths, accounting for two-thirds of earnings from its food business.

The now Sydneysider lives on the north shore with her husband and two teenage children. Away from Woolworths, Ms Bardwell is involved with Chief Executive Women (CEW), an organisation representing prominent and influential women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sector.

Her membership saw her win a scholarship Leading for Results: INSEAD Singapore in 2011, which provides experienced managers with crucial skills for leading people in a global business environment.

Bardwell comes to the role when Woolworths and rival Coles are under scrutiny over pricing practices and supplier relations. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission is undertaking a 12 month review of the retailers at the request of the government, while the ACTU recently completed its own review with former ACCC chair Allan Fels.