Nigel O’Neil named Woodards Chief Executive Officer

Woodards is pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel O’Neil as Chief Executive Officer, as John Piccolo moves into an Executive Chairman role. 

The appointment of Nigel is part of an exciting growth phase for the Woodards Group. Woodards has held a solid reputation in the inner Melbourne markets for over 100 years and has recently extended its reach with new offices in Dromana, to service the Mornington Peninsula market and Croydon, as the gateway to the Yarra Ranges. Nigel, who joined Woodards 12 months ago, brings over 17 years of industry experience and is only the 5th CEO appointment of the Group.

Nigel has large footsteps to fill from previous CEO of 22 years John Piccolo.  John will move into the role of Executive Chairman, focusing on strategy and growth. This will also allow him to pursue his various philanthropic interests and continue his role as a Director of the Woodards Foundation and Ambassador of the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) CEO Sleepout. Both these causes raise funds to assist the homeless, women and families affected by domestic violence to find a safe place to live and soup vans to feed those in need.

“Having been with the Group for over 12 months now, Nigel’s experience and energy render him an exceptional fit for the organisation, as it seeks to expand its footprint in the years ahead. Nigel has a strong understanding of the market and its dynamics and where we are as a business. “We are equally excited by the opportunities ahead for the Woodards Group”, said John.

“It is always challenging to find the right cultural fit and shared values, but the Woodards mantra to “Do the Right Thing” certainly resonates with me. It’s early days, but the internal momentum we are building to further strengthen our position in key strategic markets through working more closely with our offices to help them grow, is extremely encouraging,” said Nigel.

The CEO appointment and Executive Chairman transition are part of the group’s comprehensive succession planning process to ensure leadership continuity and to continue the success of the Woodards brand.