Incoming Wesfarmers chair Ken MacKenzie has increased his investment in the Australian retail and chemicals group, taking the value of his holding to close to A$1 million.
The purchase was disclosed through a director’s interest notice on Wednesday, showing that Mr MacKenzie had topped up his position in Wesfarmers shares.
Mr MacKenzie joined the Wesfarmers board on 1 June and is due to succeed Michael Chaney as chairman following the company’s annual general meeting, scheduled for 29 October.
His appointment remains subject to shareholders electing him as a director at the meeting. Mr Chaney announced in 2023 that he would retire at the end of his current three-year term.
Mr MacKenzie previously served as chairman of mining giant BHP, stepping down in March 2025. Before that, he was chief executive and managing director of global packaging company Amcor for a decade.
Wesfarmers, which owns businesses including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks and its chemicals, energy and fertilisers division, said last year that Mr MacKenzie had been chosen for his experience overseeing large and complex companies.
