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Gordon Cairns

October 2022

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci said it was clear that cost of living pressures were changing how people shopped.

Woolworths CEO apologises for MyDeal data breach

Brad Banducci is doubling down on efforts in cybersecurity, and says this is a significant issue for every corporate in Australia.

  • Carrie LaFrenz

August 2022

Woolies chairman Gordon Cairns says the first obligation of a board is the obligation to dissent.

Why these leadership duos outperformed

Changing of the chairs at the top of three top-performing companies is an opportunity to examine why some boards and CEOs work extremely well.

  • Tony Boyd

July 2022

Outgoing Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns.

Gordon Cairns picks Scott Perkins, again

Cairns is now handing the chairmanship of Woolworths to the man who originally handed it to him.

  • Updated
  • Joe Aston
Woolworths has names SCott Perkins as its new chairman.

Scott Perkins named new chairman of Woolworths

The Origin Energy chairman will replace Gordon Cairns to lead the board of the nation’s largest grocery retailer.

  • Carrie LaFrenz

September 2021

Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns.

Woolworths’ reputation to play a role in executive bonuses

The supermarket giant is replacing a key measure of retail productivity, sales per square metre, to determine its bosses’ pay.

  • Sue Mitchell
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Senior board members, l-r, Michael Chaney, Gordon Cairns, Catherine Livingstone, David Gonski, Jillian Broadbent and Lindsay Maxsted.

Six business leaders predict the future for boards

As part of our series celebrating BOSS turning 21, we asked six leading chairs about the future of boards.

  • Patrick Durkin

June 2021

Endeavour Drinks managing director Steve Donohue.

ESG questions loom large for a stand-alone Endeavour Drinks

As Woolworths spins out its gaming and alcohol retailing division this week, investors are split about how much ESG issues will weigh down the business’ strengths.

  • Jemima Whyte
Woolworths and Dan Murphy’s

Social licence win in Woolworths’ backdown on Darwin Dan Murphy’s

The supermarket giant’s decision to hand back its controversial liquor licence shows the social responsibility message is finally infiltrating the directors’ club.

  • Updated
  • Jemima Whyte
Front and centre: Gordon Cairns (Woolworths Group), Catherine Livingstone (Commonwealth Bank) and John Mullen (Telstra) at the ASA conference in Sydney on Tuesday.

Chairmen tell of life-changing events

Three of the most influential chairmen in Australian business have gone unplugged at the Australian Shareholders’ Association Investor Conference.

  • Tony Boyd
John Mullen (Telstra) during a panel discussion at the ASA conference.

Top chairmen rail against industrial relations complexity

The final session of the shareholders association conference provided insight into frustrations held by the leaders of three of Australia’s biggest companies.

  • James Eyers

March 2021

Oakridge is the latest edition to Woolworths’ growing stable of fine wines.

Woolworths chairman needs no introduction to Oakridge owner

Australia’s directors club really is a small place.

  • Myriam Robin

November 2020

Woolworths' earnings will fall this year despite record sales growth.

'Out of control': Woolworths chairman calls for simpler wage awards

Gordon Cairns says the group's $500 million wage underpayment scandal 'should never have happened' but partly blames the complex awards system.

  • Sue Mitchell

June 2020

Gordon Cairns, chairman of Woolworths in a store in Neutral Bay in Sydney.

Cuts to penalty rates will boost jobs: Woolworths

Updating the industrial relations system would promote flexibility and greater teamwork, says Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns.

  • Sally Patten

April 2020

Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns and other directors have been threatened with legal action.

Should Woolworths' board stop a morally dubious liquor barn?

A planned Dan Murphy's outlet near three Aboriginal communities in Darwin could test the legal limits of directors' responsibilities.

  • Aaron Patrick

January 2020

Endeavour Drinks managing director Steve Donohue has been confirmed as CEO of the enlarged Endeavour Group.

Woolworths unveils Endeavour Group leadership team

Endeavour Drinks managing director Steve Donohue will lead the enlarged drinks business, which is expected to demerge and float later this year.

  • Sue Mitchell
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December 2019

Woolworths underpayments scandal hung heavily over its AGM.

Woolies shows our cultural cringe

Woolworths chairman Gordon Cairns was keen to emphasise the company's response to an underpayments scandal, but corporate Australia has a problem it must get on top of.

  • James Thomson
Woolworths' $300 million wage underpayments scandal has already cost CEO Brad Banducci a $2.6 million bonus and is expected to dominate proceedings at the AGM on Monday.

Woolworths faces grilling over wages scandal at AGM

Woolworths' $300 million wage underpayment scandal has taken the gloss off what has otherwise been a strong year for Australia's largest retailer.

  • Sue Mitchell

November 2019

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci will forgo his $2.6 million short term bonus this year.

Woolworths CEO to forgo $2.6m bonus over scandal

The supermarket giant's wage underpayment scandal will cost Brad Banducci his bonus and chairman Gordon Cairns 20 per cent of his board fees.

  • Sue Mitchell
Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney

Lang Walker, Gill McLachlan lead Rockpool throng

Oh Rockpool, it's been a while...

  • Joe Aston

October 2019

Market Forces wants Origin to close its Eraring coal power plant by 2030.

Origin Energy defends 2032 closure for coal plant

Chairman Gordon Cairns clashed with shareholder activists over Origin Energy's stance on emissions reduction and fracking.

  • Updated
  • Angela Macdonald-Smith

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/gordon-mckellar-cairns-34r