Leah Weckert
CEO & Managing Director, Coles Group
Leah Weckert is an Australian business executive who became CEO and Managing Director of Coles Group on 1 May 2023, the first woman to lead the supermarket group in its more than century-long history. A former McKinsey consultant, she joined Coles in 2011 and held senior roles including Chief Financial Officer before her appointment as CEO, succeeding Steven Cain.
Fast facts
| Role | CEO & Managing Director |
|---|---|
| Company | Coles Group ASX:COL |
| Sector | Retail / Consumer Staples |
| Headquarters | VIC |
| In role since | 2023 |
| Education | Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) and Bachelor of Science, University of Adelaide; Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School. |
Background
Appointed CEO in May 2023 succeeding Steven Cain; previously Coles Chief Commercial Officer and CFO; former McKinsey consultant.
Career timeline
- 2011Joined Coles after around 6.5 years at McKinsey & Company's Melbourne office
- 2017Appointed Director of Strategy, People and Culture at Coles
- 2018Became Chief Financial Officer of Coles
- 2022Appointed Chief Executive, Commercial and Coles Express
- 2023Became CEO and Managing Director of Coles Group on 1 May, succeeding Steven Cain
Notable
- First woman to lead Coles as chief executive in the group's more than 100-year history.
- Spent about 6.5 years at McKinsey & Company before joining Coles.
- Trained as a chemical engineer at the University of Adelaide before earning an MBA at Harvard Business School.
- Served as Coles' Chief Financial Officer and Chief Commercial Officer before becoming CEO.
- Succeeded Steven Cain as CEO in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of Coles Group?
Leah Weckert has been CEO and Managing Director of Coles Group since 1 May 2023.
Is Leah Weckert the first female CEO of Coles?
Yes. She is the first woman to lead Coles as chief executive.
What is Leah Weckert's professional background?
She is a former McKinsey consultant and trained chemical engineer who held CFO and commercial leadership roles at Coles before becoming CEO.
Whom did Leah Weckert succeed as Coles CEO?
She succeeded Steven Cain.
Public profiles
Sources
- https://simplywall.st/stocks/au/consumer-retailing/asx-col/coles-group-shares/management
- https://www.consultancy.com.au/news/6946/coles-and-woolworths-appoint-mckinsey-alumni-to-top-level-roles
- https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/appointments/important-day-leah-weckert-becomes-first-female-ceo-of-coles/
Last verified 2026-07-13. Professionally-public, sourced information only.