Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, February 2025 – Rich Atkinson has joined Coles Group as General Manager, People & Culture – Operations. In this role, he will be responsible for leading the strategic people and culture direction across Supermarkets, Supply Chain, and Liquor, contributing to making Coles a great place to work for its operations team members. His extensive expertise in HR leadership, global workforce integration, and talent strategy will play a pivotal role in driving Coles Group’s people-first approach in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.
Prior to joining Coles Group, Rich Atkinson served as the (Global) Head of People at WiseTech Global, where he led HR strategy across 40+ countries. He played a key role in employment due diligence, workforce integration for acquisitions, and the development of HR governance and rewards programs. His leadership was instrumental in scaling the company’s global revenue growth and transitioning to a flexible hybrid workforce.
Before WiseTech, he held key roles at dnata, including Integration Director & Business Unit Leader, where he oversaw the integration of Qantas Catering’s 2,000+ employees post-acquisition. He also served as SVP Human Resources, where he led the global HR function for 50,000+ employees across 85 countries, implementing major transformation initiatives in leadership, culture, cost management, and talent mobility.
Atkinson has also held senior HR leadership positions at eBay, PayPal Global Operations, BT Financial Group, and GE Capital, where he specialized in organizational transformation, workforce strategy, talent acquisition, and leadership development. His ability to drive people strategies that enhance business performance has been a consistent hallmark of his career.
About Coles Group
Coles Group is one of Australia’s largest retailers and a trusted name in supermarkets, liquor, and convenience. With more than 115,000 team members across Australia, Coles is committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable, and innovative food solutions both in-store and online. As a people-centric organization, Coles fosters an inclusive workplace culture, supporting the development and well-being of its employees.
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