Richard joined Wesfarmers Limited in 1993 after working in various commercial roles in Tubemakers of Australia Ltd.
He has held a number of positions in Wesfarmers' Business Development Department including General Manager. In 1999 Richard was appointed Managing Director of Wesfarmers Landmark Limited, a position he retained until his appointment as Finance Director of Wesfarmers Limited in 2002.
Richard was appointed Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Wesfarmers Limited in May 2004 and assumed the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in July 2005. He is a director of a number of Wesfarmers group subsidiaries. He is also a director of Gresham Partners Holdings Limited, Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and a member of the University of Western Australia Business School Advisory Board.
Richard has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School in 1998.