Michael Smith was appointed chairman of 7-Eleven in 2015, shortly after it was revealed that there was widespread systematic underpayment of workers by franchisees.

After the wages scandal the chief executive stood down and the board was cleared out. Smith, who was deputy chairman and had been on the board since 1999, says he was offered a choice by billionaire owner and chairman Russ Withers: stay and try to fix the crisis, or get out.