Fred Hilmer and Stephen Johns to depart Westfield board

The Westfield Group has announced that Stephen Johns and Professor Fred Hilmer AO have indicated that they will not seek re-election at the upcoming annual general meeting to be held May 29. The combined time spent at Westfield by the two totals 65 years.

The chairman, Frank Lowy AC, paid tribute to the outstanding service provided by both directors to the group.

“Both Stephen and Fred have been key figures on the Westfield Board for more than 20 years. They have served the group through a phase of continued growth and have been instrumental in the success of the group over a long period. Their experience, wisdom and collegiate approach will be greatly missed.

I look forward to acknowledging the contributions made by both Stephen and Fred at the May AGM.”

Stephen Johns joined the group in 1970. For more than 30 years, he served the Group with great distinction in various executive capacities culminating in his appointment in 1985 as group finance director, a position he held until 2002. Mr Johns continued to serve the group as a non-executive Director following his retirement as an executive and has made a significant contribution to the Board and its Committees, serving as chair of the risk management committee and as a member of the audit committee.

Fred Hilmer joined the group as a non-executive director in 1991 and since that time has served as deputy chairman, lead independent director and ahairman of the audit and remuneration committees.