As new Homebase-owner Wesfarmers fits out the UK’s first Bunnings store in St Albans, Retail Week profiles the now-complete team at the top 

Wesfarmers culled the Homebase management board in the week it acquired the DIY specialist from Home Retail Group for £340m.

The Australian conglomerate was determined to bring in veterans from its home improvement business Bunnings to spearhead the overhaul of Homebase stores.

Last week, Retail Week revealed that Homebase in St Albans will be transformed into the first Bunnings pilot store, with doors due to open to customers in February next year.

But, with the wheels now in motion, who are the people accountable for successfully launching Bunnings in the UK & Ireland?

Managing director Peter (PJ) Davis

Davis was appointed UK & Ireland managing director in February, as soon as the business changed hands.

As former Bunnings chief operating officer, he has been instrumental in the growth and development of the business in Australia and New Zealand since joining in 1983.

He led the team responsible for the Bunnings Warehouse format and has held a range of other senior roles in operations, marketing, advertising and merchandising.

Davis started his career on the shopfloor and has accumulated 40 years’ experience in the hardware and home improvement industry.

Finance director Rodney Boys

Boys has held a variety of senior roles within the Wesfarmers Group over the last 20 years.

When he joined Bunnings in 2003, he headed developments in its IT department. He later took on senior roles in logistics, finance and business support functions before becoming chief financial officer.

General manager of merchandise Craig Castelino

Castelino has worked for Bunnings as a category manager in its merchandising department for more than nine years.

Prior to joining the retailer, he worked for 20 years at senior levels for a range of suppliers.

Castelino has experience in sales, marketing and manufacturing across a number of industries.

General manager of store development Shane Mealor

Mealor has been with Bunnings since 1995. He started as a team member while studying building design and architecture, working his way up to visual merchandise manager in 2008.

Along the way, Mealor has held various roles including store design, construction and visual merchandising.

General manager of operations Craig Wallace

Wallace has been with Bunnings for more than 15 years in a range of operational roles, including complex manager, area manager and more recently state operations manager of New South Wales, followed by Victoria.

General manager of marketing Keith Murray

Another Bunnings lifer, Murray started as a team member at the Tuggeranong Warehouse in Canberra 17 years ago.

For the last 13 years, he has worked in a number of roles in marketing, including advertising, communications, events and regional marketing.

His most recent post was as national advertising manager at the Australian business.

General manager of property Andrew Mason

Mason is one of two members in the Bunnings leadership team to come from the UK.

He started his career at Halfords in 1991 as a property manager and has headed the bike and motoring specialist’s property team for the last three years.

However, Mason also has six years’ experience in the home improvement sector.

He worked at Wickes as head of property and later led property acquisitions for the Travis Perkins Group.

General manager of human resources Martina Kay

Kay has 20 years’ experience in human resources, including 12 years in retail with Marks & Spencer, Arcadia, Debenhams and White Stuff.

UK advisory board

The Bunnings team is also supported by a UK advisory board.

The three-man team includes former B&Q Asia chief executive Matt Tyson, ex-McKinsey partner and Lazard adviser Michael Mire, and former Asda and Kingfisher finance boss Archie Norman.

Norman, Tyson and Mire are tasked with providing key insights to help the Australian retailer drive its UK strategy.

Retail veteran Norman, who has been an adviser to Wesfarmers since 2007, also advises the Government on how it supports and deals with business.