You probably wouldn't believe it if someone told you that Perth-based retailing specialist Wesfarmers was bigger than global resources leader BHP Billiton, but that was the situation last week on the Australian Securities Exchange as the company led by Richard Goyder quietly slipped past the global mining giant.
Wesfarmers has announced plans to spend over $1 billion in the UK market after sealing a deal to buy the Homebase home improvement chain for $705 million and rebrand it as Bunnings.
SPECIAL REPORT: The 2015 CEO salary survey has some surprising names near the top of the list while some of the state's best chief executives are unexpectedly low down.
Wesfarmers will make about 300 national roles redundant, 45 of which are in Western Australia, as part of a restructuring of its industrial and safety division.
Wesfarmers' incoming chairman Michael Chaney will inherit challenging conditions in the conglomerate's industrial and resources division, but continued solid earnings from its retail businesses including Coles and Bunnings.
SPECIAL REPORT: It has been a tough year for job seekers in WA, but some new sectors have emerged to keep the state's employment levels at record highs.
Wesfarmers has promoted Rob Scott to managing director of a new industrials division created through the combination of its three non-retail operations.
Wesfarmers has acquired a 13.7 per cent shareholding in Quadrant Energy, less than three weeks after the oil and gas producer was established as an independent company.
Michael Chaney will take the role of chairman of conglomerate Wesfarmers when Bob Every retires at the company's next annual general meeting in November.
The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation has officially launched its Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy program, with some of the state's highest-profile business leaders joining 14 young professionals in a team-based fundraising challenge.
Some of the biggest names in WA business will help nurture the next wave of philanthropists in the state as part of an innovative program to raise money for the children's hospital.
The international stage has helped this year's local business and political leaders stand out from the pack – including our Person of the Year, Richard Goyder.
The tougher business climate has prompted some WA companies to cut executive salaries, but most have held the line and some have even awarded pay rises.
Curtin University has unveiled the first phase of a new multi-million dollar business education precinct, made possible through a $1 million sponsorship from Wesfarmers.
Wesfarmers has appointed Maya vanden Driesen to the position of group general counsel, putting her in charge of a national team of 42 in-house lawyers.
Chalice Gold Mines founder and executive chairman Tim Goyder has taken the role of managing director in a series of board changes that include Bill Bent stepping down from the position today.
Wesfarmers has been given the tick of approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to divest its insurance underwriting businesses.
CBH Group chief executive Andrew Crane has been appointed a member of Australia's B20 Leadership Group, a private sector consortium that produces policy recommendations for international finance leaders for the annual G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane next year.
FEATURE: It has been a difficult year for many of WA's listed entities, but investors are backing the performance of most of the state's top executives.
Western Australian business chiefs Kevin Gallagher, Gina Rinehart and Richard Goyder were recognised in separate awards events across the country last night.
The state's biggest employer last year increased its direct contribution to community causes by a growth factor well above those for its revenue and profit returns.
Almost all of Western Australia's independent schools have increased their fees and enrolled slightly more students than last year, according to Business News' Book of Lists research.
The state's first indigenous cultures museum is set to be up and running by 2017 with the help of $50 million from the University of Western Australia's New Century Campaign.
A slowdown in the mining sector could have positive flow-on effects for employers in other industries, Business News' annual survey of the state's 100 largest employers has found.
The new-found restraint characterising chief executive salaries has not extended to Kerry Stokes' Seven Group Holdings, which has announced that new boss Don Voelte could earn $7.2 million each yea
Wesfarmers' inexorable shift from its Western Australian roots has continued with the announcement this week that Jennifer Westacott will join its board, ensuring that the Perth-headquartered congl
