Perth, Western Australia-Wesfarmers Chemicals & Fertilisers and Wesfarmers Energy divisions will merge to form Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers. Tom O’Leary, currently managing director of Wesfarmers Energy, will lead the new division. Olivier Chretien will continue as managing director of Wesfarmers Industrial & Safety. Both O’Leary and Chretien will continue to report to Terry Bowen, Wesfarmers finance director. Ian Hansen, currently managing director of Wesfarmers Chemicals & Fertilisers, will take on the role of CEO Chemicals, reporting to O’Leary, with responsibility for ammonia, ammonium nitrate, sodium cyanide, industrial chemicals, and Australian vinyls. Bowen said “Hansen’s significant ongoing role recognizes the strong contribution he has made to the group over many years in driving the growth of the chemical businesses, and will allow for an increased focus in this area, including overseeing the possible expansion of the ammonium nitrate business that would be a growth platform for the new division.” The appointments take effect immediately, with restructuring activities expected to be completed by the end of June 2010. Costs of the restructure are not expected to exceed A$10 million. There are expected to be cost synergies from the merger, though they were not the primary driving force for it, according to Bowen, who said the change will better leverage common customer relationships. Within the energy businesses, LPG and LNG businesses will merge, while Coregas, an energy unit, will transfer to be a part of Wesfarmers Industrial & Safety division.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain