Newly-appointed JB Hi-Fi CEO Nick Wells has focused on sustainability in his first public statement to the market since being appointed to the new role.
Wells took over as CEO from Terry Smart, who left the business on 3 October.
Wells made his first address as CEO at the company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting held yesterday.
“I would like to acknowledge the confidence that Stephen and the Board have shown in me in appointing me as Group Chief Executive Officer. I would like to acknowledge Terry. I am fortunate to have worked closely with him over many years and thank him for his outstanding leadership. I am excited to take on the Group CEO role having been part of this business for the past 16 years, and believe that in JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and e&s, we have three of Australia’s most loved, respected and successful retail brands, overseen by an experienced and incredibly talented team. Our businesses are in great shape and are well positioned to maximise the opportunities ahead of them.”
“Retailing is a dynamic and exciting industry and JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and e&s are market leaders in their respective sectors.”
“As we have said before, the core of our proposition has always been, and will remain, our unwavering focus on customers who continue to turn to us for their technology and home appliance needs, and our over 16,000 dedicated and knowledgeable team members across Australia and New Zealand who continue to respond and adapt to meet these needs.”
“We are committed to having a positive impact on our people, our community and our environment.”
“In our FY25 Sustainability Report, we outlined the progress made in our key areas of focus, which included 40% of the Group’s energy now coming from renewable sources and a 32 per cent decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our FY20 baseline year, as we continue to work towards net-zero direct (scope 1 and 2) carbon emissions by 2030; continued investment in our teams, with 1333 leaders completing a leadership development course and 129 managers completing the women in leadership training program; recycling 9,632 tonnes of e-waste, collected through recycling kiosks in JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys stores, and scrap metal from appliances collected from customers’ homes; launch of a waste diversion target as we work towards achieving 80 per cent waste diversion by 2030 and workplace giving donations totalling $4.6 million in FY25 and $44 million since inception.”
“We are pleased with the progress we are making on our Sustainability plan and commitments, and importantly are receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from team members.”