Homebase’s new Australian owner Wesfarmers has appointed long-time executive Rob Scott as group managing director.

Scott, who joined the conglomerate in 1993 and currently heads up its industrials division, will replace Richard Goyder.

Goyder is retiring in November after 12 years at the helm.

Retailers Bunnings, Coles and Target form part of the Wesfarmers group, which snapped up Homebase from Home Retail Group last year for £340m.

It is now in the process of rebranding the UK’s Homebase stores to Bunnings. The first Bunnings Warehouse opened in St Albans last month.

Team player

Scott – a former Olympic rower – said: “The Wesfarmers approach to business is ingrained in me and provides our teams with a platform to innovate and develop world-class businesses.

“Building high-performing teams and maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation will be my focus as we position the group for the future.”

He has been made group deputy chief executive with immediate effect and will join the board as managing director following its annual general meeting in November.

Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney said Scott has shown himself to be an “outstanding executive” and has “demonstrated his leadership and commercial capability”.

“The appointment continues Wesfarmers’ unbroken tradition of appointing its chief executives from within the group,” he added.

Bunnings’ former boss John Gillam, who was a potential candidate for the top job, resigned from the group in December.

Wesfarmers will report half-year financial results on Wednesday.