News Articles for Rob Scott

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott has disclosed a challenging outlook for several of the group's businesses while also detailing an alarming rise in retail crime and threats to staff.

OPINION: Words and actions not in alignment when it comes to WA's anachronistic retail trading hours regime.

Wesfarmers will make a $1.7 billion capital return to shareholders after reporting a strong lift in net profit, helped by proceeds from four major asset sales.

Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti have been named the state's most powerful people, edging out mining magnates Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest in the 2025 Power 500.

Wesfarmers has announced a change within its Officeworks portfolio, with Sarah Hunter to depart from the company from August.

The outlook for the Kwinana industrial strip has changed drastically during the past year after a series of project closures and delays.

Wesfarmers has reported a small rise in interim profit from its diverse retail and industrial operations while maintaining plans to invest heavily in the depressed lithium sector.

Wesfarmers has opted to shut down its online retail business in the face of growing competition, announcing one-off costs of up to $60 million from the wind down of Catch.

Wesfarmers will sell gas supplier Coregas to a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation for $770 million, subject to ACCC and FIRB approval.

Wesfarmers-owned Kmart Group has announced the resignation of managing director Ian Bailey after 19 years, with chief financial officer Aleksandra Spaseska to step up to the role.

Shareholder returns were not always reflected in the scale and growth of public-listed executive pay packets last financial year.

Business Council of Australia has announced Woodside chief executive Meg O'Neill as the newest addition to its board, joining Wesfarmers managing director and chief Rob Scott.

Wesfarmers' retail businesses carried its increased profit for the full year, while its lithium business posted a $26 million loss pinned on weak prices for the battery metal.

Plenty has shifted in Business News' annual look at WA's 50 most influential figures, with changes starting at the top of the list.

SQM boss Ricardo Ramos is robustly confident lithium prices will lift by the end of the year, speaking at the official opening of the Mt Holland lithium project.

Wesfarmers is preparing to sell spodumene into the market but doesn't expect to make a profit, as it continues to ramp up its Mt Holland lithium asset.

Well-known names feature among this year's list of WA's top earners, though not all are in the roles they've become known for.

In this podcast: Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss FMG; Austal; IR reforms; office occupancy; Burswood Park; apartment dramas; Scyne Advisory; CEO salaries and WA's biggest employers.

The lobby group for big business has backed up its support for a Voice to Parliament by disclosing its members have substantially boosted their Indigenous employment and procurement.

Wesfarmers' health and beauty division has upped its offer to $180 million to acquire SILK Laser Clinics after previously walking away from negotiations.

The managing director of the WA conglomerate has told a forum in Sydney that Wesfarmers is open to more ‘bolt-on' acquisitions following a string of expansion projects.

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott has pocketed more than $9 million after selling a portion of his shares in the Western Australian conglomerate, citing tax obligations.

Our annual update of WA's 50 most influential people analyses those using their role and profile to make a difference.

Wesfarmers' first-half results have been bolstered by its Kmart stores recording a 114 per cent jump in earnings before tax.

Investment banker Michael Britton is to head business development at Wesfarmers, a key role with a who's who of past titleholders.

Inflation and sluggish wage growth has barely affected pay for many of WA's top executives.

Wesfarmers has reported more than 500 breaches of modern slavery at its supplier sites in the past financial year, a jump from 386 breaches reported in 2021.

The shortage of workers in the resources and infrastructure sectors will peak at 84,000 in two years' time and would be worse if not for project cancellations, Pit Crew has found.

Perth engineer Kate West will push for a greater focus on female workforce participation and better planning for the industries of the future at this week's jobs summit.

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott has announced a “solid” full-year profit, and expressed concern about labour shortages and cost uncertainty affecting new investments, but is positive about next week's jobs summit.

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott and FMG founder Andrew Forrest are likely to be the only Perth-based business leaders at next week's jobs summit in Canberra, with Meg O'Neill a conspicuous absentee.

A likely change of power in Canberra this year will have little bearing on the makeup of WA's political and business leaders. Click through to see our updated ranking of WA's 50 Most Influential.

Wesfarmers is one step closer to completing its acquisition of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries after securing shareholder approval.

WA's closed border policy is creating barriers for business, with recent moves by Wesfarmers a possible portent of major change.

Wesfarmers says roughly 34,000 trading days across its stores were affected by pandemic restrictions, resulting in a 14 per cent profit fall and a leaner dividend.

Richard Goyder has become the latest executive to shun WA over the indefinite border backflip, confirming he will venture east for the foreseeable future.

For most Western Australians, learning to live with COVID-19 will mean looking to the eastern states, if not the rest of the world, for direction.

The final episode of the Business News Future Perth podcast is now available, looking at the future of the Western Australian economy.

While lower returns on equity have flowed through to WA's top earners this year, the river has hardly run dry for the top end of town.

Perth business woman Megan Wynne attracted national headlines last month when she was hailed as Australia's newest billionaire, yet recent disclosures by her company indicate that was never the case.