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Comment: The article reads more like a resume than a Wikipedia article. JSFarman (talk) 21:44, 24 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: All sources are primary. Please read WP:GNG and don’t WP:REFBOMB. Fermiboson (talk) 03:45, 10 December 2025 (UTC)
Introduction
[edit]Ryan Kerry Stokes AO (born 1976) is an Australian business executive. He has served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seven Group Holdings Ltd (SGH) since July 2015.[1] SGH is an Australian diversified operating and investment group with businesses and investments in industrial services, media and energy. This includes WesTrac, Coates, Boral, Seven West Media (40% ownership), and Beach (30% ownership).[1]
Stokes is the son of Australian businessman Kerry Stokes, whose family holds a 51% majority stake in SGH.
Over his career, Stokes has held senior leadership roles across public and private companies and has chaired several cultural and not-for-profit organisations. He is currently Chairman of the National Gallery of Australia.[2] In 2020, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his contributions to Australian business and the community.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Stokes was born in Perth in 1978, the son of Australian businessman Kerry Stokes and his former wife Denise Stokes.
Stokes grew up in Dalkeith and attended Christchurch Grammar School in Claremont WA, later completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Curtin University in 1997. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM).[4]
Career
[edit]Stokes’ early career was as a Financial Analyst in the investment banking division of Merrill Lynch in New York.[5]
He went on to hold several senior executive and Board roles across a range of media and industrial businesses including Yahoo, Iron Ore Holdings, Consolidated Media Holdings, Vividwireless, Engin, Pacific Magazines and WesTrac China[6]
Stokes has worked at Australian Capital Equity Pty Ltd since 2000, the private investment company of Kerry Stokes, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2010.[1]
Stokes was appointed Managing Director and CEO of SGH in 2015, after serving as Chief Operating Officer (2012–2015) and Executive Director (2010–2012).[1]
In 2024, Stokes led SGH's acquisition of Boral Limited, an ASX-listed Australian building materials manufacturer. SGH gradually increased its stake in the company, completing a full takeover in 2024.[7] The company’s reported earnings increased 29% to A$259 million in the six months to December 31 2024, the first period in SGH’s ownership.[8] Stokes has since been credited with driving the successful transformation of the business: "In just a few years, Boral has gone from a chronic underperformer to one of the most significant drivers of the Stokeses’ SGH." [9]
Stokes has restructured the portfolio, including the divestment of WesTrac China in 2017, the group’s Chinese Caterpillar dealership operations, for A$535 million. Proceeds were redeployed to fund the A$517 million acquisition of the remaining 53.3% stake in Coates Hire.[10] WesTrac has been described by analysts as SGH’s “engine room” due to its contribution to the group’s earnings.[11]
Since Stokes became CEO, SGH's reported revenue has increased three-and-a-half times, and earnings increased by four-and-a-half-times (as of 2024).[11]
Beyond corporate management, Stokes was named one of The Australian Financial Review Businesspeople of the Year in 2024.[11]
Stokes was also awarded The Australian Institute of Management (WA) Pinnacle Award as Western Australian Business Leader of the Year for 2025.[12]
Stokes currently holds the following Board positions:
- Chairman of Coates (2017–present)
- Chairman of WesTrac (2019–present)
- Chairman of Boral (2021–present)
- Chairman of Beach Energy (2024–present; previously Director 2016–2023)
- Chairman of National Gallery of Australia (2018–present)
- Non-Executive Director of Seven West Media (2012–present)
Other activities
[edit]Stokes has been active in a range of cultural and public policy organisations. He served as Chairman of the National Library of Australia from 2012 to 2018 and has been Chairman of the National Gallery of Australia since 2018.[1]
Between 2005 and 2009 he served as inaugural Chairman of the Federal Government National Youth Mental Health Foundation.[13] The Foundation operates as Headspace, during which time the organisation was established and deployed its national model. Prior to joining the Foundation he was Chairman of the Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) from 2004 to 2005.[13]
He was also a member of the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council (PMAC) on Veteran Mental Health from its inception in 2014 until 2019.[3]
Stokes was a Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute from 2011 until 2014.[14]
He was an Olympic Education Committee Member advising the IOC Session from 2017 until 2021.[15]
Stokes was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (OA) in the Queen’s Birthday honours on 8 June 2020, for service to business and the community through the media, mining, and cultural sectors.[3]
Other appointments have included:
- Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) (2011–2015)[6]
- Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) (2010–2013)[16]
- innovationXchange, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2015–2019)[17]
Personal life
[edit]As the son of businessman, Kerry Stokes, "Stokes has said one of his earliest and fondest memories was in the 1980s, during the acquisition of Channel Seven in Canberra. “I could remember, even though I was barely old enough to remember, being in the boardroom,” he said."[18]
Stokes married Claire Campbell in 2016[19] and they live in Sydney, Australia with their three children. He has a younger brother, Bryant Stokes, who also lives in Sydney.[20]
Recognition and honours
[edit]- The Australian Institute of Management (WA) Pinnacle Award as Western Australian Business Leader of the Year 2025.[12]
- Named by the Australian Financial Review as one of its Businesspeople of the Year in 2024.[11]
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) (2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours) for service to business, mental health, and the community.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Smith, Michael (2015-04-13). "Transition for Stokes empire as son Ryan takes CEO role". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ Harcourt, Tansy (15 April 2025). "Ryan Stokes steps out of Kerry Stokes' shadow to remake SGH empire with billion-dollar deals". The Australian.
- ^ a b c d Gray, Darren (2020-06-07). "'I'm blessed:' Seven's Ryan Stokes on dad Kerry, lifting lockdown and his AO". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ "Executive Management » SGH Ltd". sghl.com.au. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ Holgate, Ben (2012-08-28). "Ryan Stokes groomed for top Seven job". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ a b Davidson, Darren (19 April 2013). "Introducing Private Ryan". The Australian.
- ^ reporter, Simon EvansSenior (2024-02-18). "Stokes' Seven Group bids to take full control of Boral". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ reporter, Simon EvansSenior (2025-02-11). "Boral earnings bonanza lifts Stokes family's SGH to bumper payout". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ Johnstone, Eric (August 12, 2025). "Stokes' rebuild of Boral offers lesson for Australia's productivity puzzle". The Australian.
- ^ ThompsonReporter, Brad (2018-02-20). "Ryan Stokes puts his stamp on Seven Group". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ a b c d "Ryan Stokes out-works, out-earns rivals to take SGH to new highs". Australian Financial Review. 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ a b "Stokes takes out Pinnacle's top gong". The West Australian. 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ a b ThompsonReporter, Brad (2020-06-07). "How watching Alzheimer's battle inspired Ryan Stokes". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ "Ryan Kerry Stokes". Bloomberg. 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Ryan Stokes". www.businessnews.com.au. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ "Appointments". www.businessnews.com.au. 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ techau (2015-03-23). "InnovationXchange is DFAT's $20 Million big data project with Bloomberg". techAU. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ "In the DNA: Ryan Stokes' vision for media 'accountability'". The West Australian. 2025-10-03. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ Hornery, Andrew (2016-12-02). "Ryan Stokes' society wedding a sizzler". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ reporter, Bonnie CampbellLuxury property (2025-09-18). "Stokes pays $37.5m for Baz Luhrmann's former mansion". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-12-09.