By Chris Nicholls

SYDNEY: Electrolux managing director Trevor Carroll has announced his retirement from the position, effective the first half of next year.

Carroll announced his decision at a staff meeting yesterday, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. He did not give a clear date for stepping down. He will remain as a non executive director and as an adviser to the company in the future.

Carroll first joined the company in 1995, when he moved from New Zealand to work as the sales and marketing executive general manager. He became group general manager of Email Major Appliances in 1998 and was appointed managing director of Electrolux Home Products when the Sweden-based Electrolux Group bought Email’s major appliances division in February 2001.

Carroll said that in his 21 years with the company he had overseen “a dramatic change in the business and the entire industry” through acquisitions and rationalisation, which included his oversight of hundreds of job cuts at its Adelaide factory.

He said it was “now time to pass the baton so I can spend more time with my family.”

Carroll will also remain national president of the Australian Industry Group (AIG), a position held since November last year.

Electrolux Asia Pacific chief executive said Carroll would “leave the business in very good shape with Electrolux recognised as a premium brand, especially in cooking.”

Nordstrom said the company would announce a successor following assessment of both internal and external candidates.