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John Neal

October 2024

The zombie chairman: How Goyder let Joyce trash Qantas’ reputation

An exclusive extract from Joe Aston’s book The Chairman’s Lounge tells the inside story of how Richard Goyder and his board allowed Alan Joyce to fly Qantas into a reputational disaster.

January 2024

BHP chief Mike Henry is still expected to deliver a strong dividend for shareholders this reporting season.

Wild swings in commodity prices may temper dividend outlook

While shareholder payouts are expected to hold steady this reporting season, some investors are more cautious on the miners and banks.

August 2023

Luke Anear, founder and CEO of SafetyCulture, says creating opportunities for early investors and staff to sell shares takes off the pressure to go public.

SafetyCulture hits $2.7b valuation, plans $500m share sale

Despite previously claiming not to need more money, the local tech star has raised $34m from investors at an increased valuation, while planning a big share sale.

March 2023

Shamini Rajarethnam, CEO of Rationale, is one of The Australian Financial Review’s Women to Watch. 
Chief Executive Officer at RATIONALE

‘Our wives wouldn’t like it’: why women had to work harder to get to the top

Senior directors reveal the barriers they used to face as The Australian Financial Review reveals its Women to Watch list for 2023.

January 2023

Lazard Asset Management’s Aaron Binsted says being overweight consumer staples and energy has helped Lazard’s Select Australian Equity Fund produce a bumper return.

Lazard’s Australian equities fund tops Mercer’s 2022 performance table

Fund managers owning stocks like QBE and Rio Tinto in 2022 have dominated the returns tables.

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July 2022

Former QBE boss Pat Regan.

QBE’s Pat Regan targeted by ASIC probe

The circumstances around Pat Regan’s dismissal were the subject of a long-running investigation by ASIC.

July 2021

Pat Regan left the company in September after he was found to have breached QBE's code of conduct.

Ex-QBE boss Patrick Regan is back in business

The sacked chief executive has set up a consulting business in England.

June 2021

The High Court has knocked back an appeal by the insurance sector over potential COVID-19 business interruption payments.

High Court knocks back insurers over pandemic payments

The High Court move has spurred law firms to launch class actions to resolve the drawn-out saga. 

February 2021

Vivek Bhatia, the new CEO of Link.

Link dumps $266m Pepper buy, PEXA stake suitors keen

COVID-19 uncertainties were the final straw for the planned European acquisition, but the PEXA stake is a jewel.

January 2021

Vivek Bhatia, the new CEO of Link.

Takeover target Link rides PEXA wave

The PEXA electronic conveyancing business, 44 per cent-owned by Link, is the star performer and drove $3 million of extra profits in December.

September 2020

Boards listen too much to managers and not enough to their shareholders.

Why aren't boards listening any more?

Directorial independence has turned to arrogance. Boards are not listening to messages from shareholders that they need to hear.

The sacking of QBE's Pat Regan sets a new standard for boards.

Worst of QBE's boys club allowed to thrive

While many good people have managed to survive in the organisation, behind the spin, the worst of the boys club has been allowed to thrive.

Departing CEO Pat Regan was "respected, but he’s not irreplaceable", says one investor.

Regan 'not irreplaceable' as QBE board stays silent

QBE has shed no light on CEO Pat Regan's mysterious exit, but analysts say the sudden departure need not concern investors because he is replaceable.

Investors want more detail over what CEO Pat Regan did to warrant being sacked.

Millions on the line for Pat Regan at QBE

Just over one million conditional rights, worth over $10 million, hang in the balance.

QBE chief executive Pat Regan has been forced out of QBE

Why QBE moved so quickly to get rid of its CEO

QBE's board has done it again in redefining the rules for acceptable behaviour by a chief executive. The shock sacking of Pat Regan will reverberate through corporate Australia.

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Pat Regan was as at home on the soccer pitch as he was in the rough and tumble of the insurance sector.

Pat Regan's run ended with brutal own goal

Pat Regan was as at home on the soccer pitch as he was in the rough and tumble of the insurance sector, where he won praise for straightening QBE out.

July 2020

Small business ombudsman Kate Carnell said the inability to obtain adequate cover was forcing some small businesses to close.

Insurers investigated over small business treatment

The small business ombudsman will launch an inquiry into Australian insurers' treatment of small business, saying it has evidence they are ratcheting up premiums.

JPMorgan has announced a global round of promotions.

JPMorgan names three new managing directors

It's global promotions day at investment bank JPMorgan and three local bankers have been on the receiving end of good news. 

April 2020

CEOs gear up to take on disruptors

Large businesses previously threatened by disruptive new players could emerge from the crisis in a stronger position to compete because of the digitisation priorities imposed by the shutdown.

January 2020

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News Corp's new CFO Michael Ford coming off QBE shocker

Ford’s time at Holt Street can't go worse than his brief stint at QBE Insurance.

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