Metcash axes staff and unveils management team for new hardware operation
Darren Manning & Stuart Willington will look after the 40-corporate-owned stores in the combined network.
Annette Welsh heads up the merchandising team.
Chris Tsotra, joint-venture role in the new business.
Rick Sola will manage supply chain and logistics.
Metcash has axed a number of senior staff to assemble the executive team to lead the merged Mitre 10 - Home Timber & Hardware (HTH) business, which has emerged as a powerful second force in Australia's $46.7 billion home improvement market from the ashes of Woolworths' failed assault on Bunnings.
The listed wholesaler would not reveal how many management and head office staff had been cut in the merger of the two independent hardware chains but sources close to the business claim at least two high profile personnel have already lost their jobs.
The newly-minted management team for Metcash's bulked-up hardware business will be led by former Mitre 10 chief Mark Laidlaw and includes only two former Home Timber & Hardware personnel, former merchandise manager Darren Manning, and Stuart Willington, who will look after the 40-corporate-owned stores in the combined network.
A spokeswoman for Metcash said it was always the plan to bring together a team that combined the best talent from both businesses and "that is exactly what this team is".
The other key roles are all filled by former Mitre 10 staff, including former general manager of operations Annette Welsh, who will head up the merchandising team for the new business, and Mitre 10's general manager of commercial, Robin Johnston, will fulfil the same role in the new business.
Mr Johnston is understood to have played a pivotal role in Metcash's bid for HTH from supermarket giant Woolworths and its US joint venture partner Lowe's.
Chris Tsotra has taken up a joint-venture role in the new business, the same role he was in at Mitre 10, and Rick Sola will manage supply chain and logistics after heading up that team for five years at Mitre 10. Former Mitre 10 human resources boss Richard Brown will head up HR in the new operation.
Metcash has already revealed the make-up of the new management team to the retailers trading under its two major hardware brands amid ongoing speculation over whether it will retain both brands or consolidate then under a single banner.
Insiders suggest Metcash has not made any decision and will undertake research on both brands before making a call.
Details of the management team are the first major announcement since Metcash revealed it had finalised the $165 million purchase of HTH from Woolworths and Lowe's in early October.
Metcash's interest in the HTH business dates back years, however, there are still concerns among some of the traders about how the combined operation will function and whether it will have the buying power and market reach to take on the dominant Bunnings.
One experienced hardware merchant said he was still concerned Metcash didn't have enough staff to drive its vision of developing the combined Mitre 10-HTH business into a competitive, No. 2 player in hardware in Australia.
"I'm just a bit worried about how many troops they have, Mitre 10 always seems to be one or two people short but maybe that's how it should be," he said.
