Woolworths Group has announced a range of position changes following the announcement of its newly created chief risk officer role.
Taking up the new chief risk officer role is current Big W managing director David Walker.
Walker will be replaced by Pejman Okhovat, who joins the business from New Zealand-based The Warehouse Group where he served as COO.
Speaking on the appointments, Woolworths Group CEO Brad Branducci said that he was thrilled to see Walker take on a new role and Pejman join the Big W team.
"There are an ever increasing number of influences changing the way that we work and the role that we play in the communities in which we operate.
"Whilst this creates many new exciting opportunities for us, it also increases the importance of good risk management.
"To best reflect these needs, we have created a new chief risk officer role within the Woolworths Group senior leadership team.
"I am pleased that someone of David’s calibre will be stepping into this new role.
"For the last four years, David and his leadership team have led the successful turnaround of Big W by building a strong purpose-led culture that has culminated in the business’s return to profitability this year.
"David’s customer first, team first mindset, his knowledge and experience leading our various businesses and operations and his background in finance and audit give him the ideal skills to step into this important new role for the Group," he said.
Pejman will join Big W in Q4 F21 and report to Claire Peters in her new Group role as MD, B2B and everyday needs.
In the interim, Teresa Rendo, who is currently GM of commercial at Big W and has played a fundamental role in Big W’s turnaround journey, will step in as acting MD of Big W.
The chief risk officer position is the second Woolworths Group has created in the wake of the pandemic, appointing Dr Rob McCartney to its first chief medical officer role in August.