Ex-Woolworths boss working at supermarket checkout stuns shoppers
It comes months after former supermarket CEO Brad Banducci sensationally resigned from the top job following a controversial televised ABC interview.
A picture of former Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci working behind a register in his final few days at the company has sparked a fiery online discussion about his farewell, hands-on role.
After 13 years with the supermarket and eight as CEO, Banducci resigned in February after an ABC Four Corners report aired in which he was accused of throwing a "mini tantrum" in response to tough questioning with his latest appearance raising some eyebrows.
In his final few weeks at Woolworths, Banducci had intended to work the floors of the supermarket. He stood down from CEO at the end of August, handing over to Amanda Bardwell, but has been working in-store, making good on the promise he made when resigning.
Banducci's farewell Woolies role blasted by public
Although Woolworths denied Banducci’s resignation was connected in any way to the ABC interview, experts have since said both the supermarket and the former CEO have been "paying the price" with the reputational damage caused by the report.
And that sentiment was not lost on the customer Banducci was seen serving at Woolworths Marrickville in Sydney's inner west on the weekend.
"What a w**ker," the caption read beside the post, which, unsurprisingly, attracted thousands of responses. "Lady was having a go at him for cosplaying a wage earner while not paying his workers enough. Pretty on the money," the poster continued.
The shopper claimed he 'copped an earful' from a customer during his visit, however it's understood "there were no negative comments to Brad from customers during his time in store".
"I feel for all the store team members who would have been under the pump to prepare for this 'visit'," one person wrote in response. "Nice. Now make the Qantas CEO fly economy on any flight over 5 hours. Experience 'the product' at its best," another said.
And some people leapt to Banducci's defence.
"I understand all the disdain in the comments, a corporate goon probably isn't going to learn empathy in a day — but surely this is better than the alternative where he never works at the checkout?" a person said.
"Brad now has some time to give back as he resigned from CEO last week," wrote another. "He's also probably doing a final bit of research on store experience in case somebody wants him as a consultant."
Yahoo understands Woolworths Group has a program in place which requires all new hires in office-based roles, no matter what their role is, to spend several days in a Woolworths store as an introduction.
How Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci's 'mini-tantrum' spelt the end
Woolworths CEO 'walks out' of ABC grilling: 'I shouldn't have said that'
Four Corners moment was all wrong, expert says
Back in February, during the Four Corners interview, Banducci momentarily walked out while facing a grilling over allegations of price gouging and a question about former consumer watchdog chair Rod Sims.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia after the event, credibility expert Neryl East argued much of Banducci's downfall can be linked to the ABC interview.
"To have a mini tantrum, to say things that you then want to strike from the record. He was chugging from a water bottle while the questions were coming in. It was just all wrong," East said earlier this year.
“I don’t know what happened between the preparation and execution but something did. The bottom line is, if you’re the CEO and you’re stepping up to face the music and answer questions … you’ve got to be able to deliver authentically. You’ve got to have a degree of humility, a degree of connection with the audience and ordinary Australians."
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