AUSTRALIAN retailer Woolworths Ltd said Reg Clairs, general manager of its Queensland supermarkets, has been named to succeed managing director Harry Watts, who died of an apparent heart attack 10 days ago while playing golf with Greg Norman.
Mr Clairs, 55, began his career with Woolworths in Western Australia as a management trainee in 1965. He will take up his new assignment in February.
Roger Corbett, 51, will take on the duties of deputy group managing director as well as his current position of managing director of the group's Big W discount chain.
The unexpected death of Mr Watts, heir apparent to Woolworths' chairman Paul Simons, was considered a management blow to the company. However, Mr Simons has often said that one of the legacies he would leave the company when he retired next year was astrong management team.
