While most sexagenarians are contemplating easing back on their workload, 62-year-old Roger Corbett continues to jam his nose to the grindstone.
As the "hands-on" boss of Woolies, one of the country's most successful retail chains and one of its biggest advertisers, Corbett oversees a portfolio of diversified supermarket, liquor and consumer electronic brands collectively generating sales of more than $27.9 billion per annum. Answerable to more than 300,000 shareholders, he is also responsible for safeguarding the pay-packets of the group's 145,000-plus employees. Corbett's 12th ranking is testament to his ability to keep evolving the Woolies brand and reflective of his power as the man at the helm of a $90 million-plus annual advertising spend. A great deal of Corbett's power also comes from Woolworths' concerted push into home brands, forcing FMCGs to either increase their advertising and hope to stay a top two brand or look for alternative distribution channels. Corbett's retailing experience dates back more than 40 years. He joined Grace Bros in the 1960s, later moving to David Jones then to BIG W. Having proved himself an aggressive leader, Corbett rose to COO of Woolies in 1998 and CEO two years later. A fellow of the Retail Management Institute of Australia, Corbett also actively contributes to the community through his involvement in the Anglican church - he is council chairman at the Sydney Church of England Grammar School - and voluntary project work for community charity group Rotary.
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