Chris Shepherd started his position as director of one-branch Macquarie Credit Union in 1971. But if you ask him about whether extended tenure leads to staleness he has some sharp words.

“It’s not about age or years of tenure. It’s about performance,” he told The Australian Financial Review. “A credit union’s no different to an ASX-listed company really. If you’re a director and not performing, the board or the chairman should do something about it.”