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Board shake-up

Today

Board independence is the first line of defence between bad decisions and shareholder losses.

Founder empathy is testing the limits of good boards

Independence, like value, is largely in the eye of the beholder. And investors are doing their homework on captured directors.

Yesterday

Keybridge Capital’s Nick Bolton.

Keybridge’s lawyer warned against using administration to avoid board spill

Silk Andrew Broadfoot urged Keybridge to be cautious about a decision to appoint an administrator days before a shareholder meeting.

This Month

‘I am WiseTech’: How Richard White regained control of his company

On one side was a group of independent directors with their reputations on the line. On the other, a powerful founder with everything to lose.

Macquarie and Lendlease director Phil Coffey says a director’s job is to keep management focused on a business’ critical drivers.

Inside Australia’s boardrooms, Trump’s a speed bump

Tariffs here one day, maybe gone the next. Australian business is trying to see through directors call “noise”, but can’t ignore the chaos.

December 2024

Malcolm Broomhead will retire from Orica in 2025.

Orica chairman Malcolm Broomhead to step down

A veteran of some of Australia’s most powerful boardrooms has announced plans to step down from his last major corporate directorship.

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November 2024

Best & Less acquirer Brett Blundy bought up City Chic stock last year.

City Chic chair hits the phones ahead of AGM

With the shares off 73 per cent over the past year and considering 27.6 per cent of shareholders voted against its report at the 2023 AGM, it’s only prudent for Michael Kay to get on the front foot.

Ramsay Health Care runs the country’s biggest network of private hospitals.

Ramsay investors push for shake-up of ‘failed’ overseas expansion

The country’s largest private hospital operator is facing demands from shareholders to discard international operations and focus on its local facilities.

Nora Scheinkestel and other directors at Westpac’s annual meeting last year in Brisbane.

Two Westpac directors leave after just three years on coveted board

The resignations add to a significant transition for the bank, with a new chairman appointed last year and a fresh chief executive starting next month.

MinRes chairman James McClements’ listening tour is a classic case study in corporate life in 2024.

Why every director should fear a MinRes on their watch

Who’s happy at Mineral Resources? No one. That’s what happens when you’re jammed between investors and the outside world.

October 2024

HESTA’s Debby Blakey, Australian Retirement Trust’s Ian Patrick, UniSuper’ John Pearce and IFM Investors chair Cath Bowtell gave interesting accounts of how they monitor and enforce standards in ASX-listed companies. The approaches differ.

How big super became the corporate enforcer

Few could’ve predicted who would be enforcing standards in corporate Australia in 2024. It’s all about the weight of money.

Richard White, WiseTech Global’s founder and chief executive, and Christine Holman, who was briefly a director of the company.

WiseTech director’s scathing assessment of ‘bully’ Richard White

Christine Holman accused the software giant’s chief executive of intimidation, bullying and overseeing poor corporate governance as she quit in 2019.

Cobram Estate co-founder Robert McGavin will prolong his stay on the company’s board.

Glass Lewis backflip prompts AGM proxy process questions

It is one thing to have a view, it is another to stand behind it. How much work goes into some of these proxy recommendations?

August 2024

Prepaid gift cards company EML Payments has announced the departure of chairman Luke Bortoli.

EML Payments chairman resigns after board clash over credit card use

Luke Bortoli, also the chief financial officer at lithium hopeful Pilbara Minerals, said he was pleased to leave the prepaid gift card group in “great shape”.

Luke Bortili.

EML Payments chairman’s corporate credit card ignites boardroom clash

The prepaid cards business said it had undertaken an “independent review of expenses incurred by directors and management” but decided against taking action.

AGL’s Patricia McKenzie settled a hornet’s nest of a situation.

AGL’s accidental chairman a good lesson in leadership

Having settled a hornet’s nest, it must have been tempting for Patricia McKenzie to hang on.

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July 2024

Mantra Group chief executive Bob East.

Can Bob East finally find a woman to sit on Cettire’s board?

The addition of investment banker Jon Gidney last week – the first to be added to the board since it listed on the ASX – only highlights the company’s needs.

Jon Gidney has joined the board of Cettire.

Veteran banker Jon Gidney joins Cettire board

The former investment banking heavyweight has joined the luxury goods platform, which is yet to appoint any female directors.

June 2024

Former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will step into a big new role at Tabcorp.

Businesses failing to weigh wider risks

Readers’ letters on the need for boards to consider risks beyond their organisation; the links between gambling and sport; and the fight against inflation.

More than 50 per cent of ASX200 companies have factored climate change into short or long-term incentive structures, up from only 10 per cent in FY20.

CEO pay goes green, but details lacking on performance measures

It’s one thing to set CEO remuneration based on climate change goals; it’s another to be able to properly measure them.

Sally Pitkin will retire as chairwoman of Super Retail Group after the October AGM.

Super Retail names new chair to replace Sally Pitkin

Judith Swales will exit her executive role at Fonterra and become chairwoman at the retailer behind the Rebel and Supercheap Auto brands.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/board-shake-up-1nc9