Case Studies

Metcash Group

Case Study: Strategic Talent Partnership Across a Diversified Retail and Wholesale Network

Metcash Group is a leading wholesale distribution and marketing business, supporting independent retailers across food, liquor and hardware. Its diversified portfolio includes Metcash Food, Metcash Liquor, ALM, Independent Hardware Group, Total Tools and Total Tools Hardware Group.

Galvin-Rowley Executive has developed a trusted, multi-year partnership with Metcash Group, supporting executive and senior leadership search across corporate, operational and functional roles.

The partnership has focused on identifying and securing high-impact leadership talent to support Metcash’s continued transformation, growth and operational performance across a complex, multi-brand network.

In 2025, Galvin-Rowley Executive was appointed as a Preferred Search Partner for executive recruitment across the Metcash Group, reflecting a strong track record of delivery, deep sector expertise and a trusted advisory relationship with senior leadership.

Metcash Group

Case Study: Strategic Talent Partnership Across a Diversified Retail and Wholesale Network

The Challenge

Metcash operates across a complex, decentralised portfolio of wholesale, retail and independent retailer networks. Leadership appointments need to reflect the commercial realities of thin-margin, high-volume environments while also supporting transformation, growth and cultural alignment.

The business required leaders with strong commercial acumen, the ability to operate across multiple stakeholder groups and the capability to contribute to strategic change across digital, supply chain, procurement, finance, property, marketing, safety and people functions.

Talent scarcity in the Australian market added further complexity, particularly across senior finance, procurement and executive roles. This required a highly targeted, relationship-led search approach capable of accessing passive talent and positioning Metcash’s opportunity effectively in the market.

Our Solution

Galvin-Rowley Executive delivered a high-touch, insight-led search model across the Metcash ecosystem.

The approach included deep market mapping across retail, FMCG, wholesale distribution and adjacent sectors, supported by targeted engagement with passive executive and senior leadership talent.

Galvin-Rowley Executive worked closely with senior stakeholders across multiple Metcash business units to understand business priorities, leadership expectations and cultural requirements. This included supporting role design, remuneration positioning and candidate assessment.

The search process placed strong emphasis on values alignment, commercial judgement and long-term appointment success. Candidates were assessed not only for technical capability, but for their ability to operate within Metcash’s decentralised model and support independent retailer networks.

Through this partnership model, Galvin-Rowley Executive served as both a strategic advisor and a search partner, helping Metcash navigate a competitive talent market with confidence.

The Impact

The partnership has strengthened leadership capability across multiple Metcash divisions and brands.

Galvin-Rowley Executive’s work has supported the delivery of strategic transformation initiatives, particularly across procurement, finance, digital and people functions. It has also improved bench strength and succession planning across the Group.

The repeatable search framework developed through the partnership has enabled consistent delivery across business-critical leadership roles, while maintaining strong alignment with Metcash’s values, operating model and commercial priorities.

The partnership has established Galvin-Rowley Executive as a trusted search partner across the Metcash network, supporting leadership outcomes across multiple brands, functions and business units.

Key Placements

Executive and General Management

Chief Financial Officer
Group Head of Procurement
Group General Manager Property
GM People and Culture
General Manager, People and Culture
General Manager Marketing
GM Own Store Network
GM Alpine, Wangaratta
General Manager FAGGS Mitre 10, Geelong
Head of Sales, Food, Victoria

Procurement, Commercial and Digital Leadership

Head of Procurement, Technology and Digital
Head of Procurement, Supply Chain and Logistics
Head of Commercial, Retail Networks
Head of Digital

People and Culture Leadership

Head of People and Culture
Senior HR Business Partner, Total Tools
Senior People and Culture Business Partner
People and Culture Business Partner, Company Stores
HR Business Partner, Support Office
People and Culture Business Partner
People and Culture Manager

Risk, Assurance and Safety

Senior Assurance Manager, Melbourne
National WC/SHE Advisor
Safety, Health and Environment Advisor

The Metcash Group partnership demonstrates Galvin-Rowley Executive’s ability to support complex, multi-brand organisations with sustained executive and senior leadership search.

By combining sector expertise, targeted market access and a deeply consultative approach, Galvin-Rowley Executive has helped Metcash build the leadership capability required to support growth, transformation and long-term performance.

What Our Clients Say

Jennifer’s management of the candidate side of searches is exemplary. Too often, candidates are left wondering where we are in the process, what’s next, and, without good advice, going into interviews. Jennifer and her team are the opposite of this. I felt informed about the process and given background on the hiring company and its executives, enabling me to move confidently into interviews. Jennifers always delivered on the promised timing of updates. Her attention to detail on the client side of the recruitment is precise and focused. It has been a pleasure to work with Jennifer, and I can highly recommend her services.

Allison Smith

Board Chair, Dandenong Market

I first met Jennifer as a candidate. Having touched most of the major search firms as a candidate for executive roles and experienced first-hand their generally low level of candidate care, I have had no hesitation in recommending Jennifer to colleagues who are searching for a new job, or in using her myself as a preferred provider when in need of HR staff.

Mike Johnson

Former HR Director, SKILLED Group

Jen has really invested in understanding our culture and what attributes to look for to ensure a seamless team-fit. In addition, her definition of quality and high-calibre is the same as ours.
That makes life so much easier, and means we are consistently forced to make tough choices at the end of a relatively short recruitment period.
What else could we ask? Highly professional, and a calmly positive influence on us all.

Russell Parker

CEO, Kikki.K
Former CEO, Hallmark International

Galvin-Rowley Executive is a boutique executive placement agency that delivers above and beyond service with integrity to its clients.
The Director, Jennifer Galvin-Rowley, takes the time to understand her clients’ needs and then searches through her amazing network of contacts to find the right people for the right jobs.
Whilst I was CEO of BeyondBlue, Jennifer and her team were a delight to work with and I wouldn’t go anywhere else if I was looking for a key executive.

Dawn O’Neil, AM

Former CEO, BeyondBlue

For nine months we’d searched in vain for a HSE Manager. This was a difficult project: candidates were scarce, our standards were high, and the role was in the country.
When Jen was referred to us, she stood above the other recruiters for three reasons: she dealt in specialist OH&S Managers; she knew how to fill rural roles; and she didn’t advertise—she searched.
Jen approached the task with imagination. Her ideas were unusual, yet so logical. She handled candidates with promptness and respect, and we swiftly found and hired a great fit. I therefore suggest you let Jen recruit your next manager.

Jim Cooper

Former CEO, Port of Portland
Former Managing Director and CEO, Terragen Holdings Limited
Chair Audit & Risk Management Committee and Non-Executive Director, Dandenong Market
CEO, Continence Health Australia