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Board shake-up

This Month

ANZ chairman Paul O’Sullivan

ANZ chairman finally wakes up to board experience, composition issues

A search is under way, but whether Paul O’Sullivan can attract people with the requisite knowledge and experience as directors is another matter.

Speculation is mounting John Mullen will stand down as chair of Treasury Wine Estates later next year.

Qantas chair John Mullen could quit Treasury Wine over workload worry

The high-profile board director said he was working to reduce his board commitments, which was “taking longer than expected” in face of investor concern.

WiseTech founder Richard White and former chairman Richard Dammery.

WiseTech board sought assurances from White over share sales

Richard White, the billionaire co-founder of the software giant privately reassured directors he would stop offloading stock. Now ASIC is probing those transactions.

A model walks the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last month. The company’s sharemarket performance has lagged this year.

Billionaire Brett Blundy pushes for Victoria’s Secret board seat

The businessman best known for his stake in Lovisa and other major brands owns almost 13 per cent of the New York-listed lingerie label and wants changes.

Stephen Conroy has joined Foxtel’s board.

Foxtel reveals new board after News Corp sale to Dazn

A former Labor powerbroker turned lobbyist has joined Foxtel as one of its two independent board members, new corporate filings reveal.

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October

James Hardie’s chairwoman Anne Lloyd (left) faces a shareholder revolt at the annual meeting. CEO Aaron Erter (right) has angered Australian shareholders with the $14b Azek purchase, high debt levels and a subsequent profit downgrade.

James Hardie urged to appoint Australian directors to rebuild trust

A growing number of shareholders say they will oppose the re-election of the chairwoman and other board members at this week’s annual general meeting.

James Hardie chief executive Aaron Erter on a building site in Naperville, Illinois.

‘The deal is done’: James Hardie CEO vows to rebuild trust

Aaron Erter admits the dilutive $14 billion deal to buy Azek was a surprise for investors but said James Hardie needed to diversify for future growth.

Judith Swales is Super Retail’s chairwoman.

Super Retail chair survives investor ire, cancels $7m in bonuses

The owner of Rebel Sport has been mired in controversy after its now former chief executive was accused of having an affair with the head of human resources.

Reviving shareholder-centric governance can save the ASX

The exchange operator’s fall from global leader to regional laggard was driven by a shift to stakeholder-centric values by its now-defunct Corporate Governance Council.

Former WiseTech chairman Richard Dammery, right, collected additional directors’ fees after Richard White resigned. 

Richard White, WiseTech Global’s founder, with

Disclosures show WiseTech’s danger money for former chairman, board

The logistics software giant pays Richard Dammery a so-called exertion fee of about $155,000 in just four months, taking his remuneration beyond $500,000.

Paul Flynn (left) and Mark Vaile (right) from Whitehaven.

AustralianSuper spells end of coal mining troika

The country’s largest super fund is Whitehaven’s largest shareholder, bringing some governance glare to the company’s board.

Veteran activist Gary Weiss is back in the spotlight, this time at travel bookings company Webjet.

Gary Weiss puts a rocket up Webjet

The veteran corporate activist is firing off terse letters at the online travel group in his latest round of suit warfare.

September

Nine chairman Catherine West will step down in November.

Nine Entertainment flags 2GB, 3AW radio sale as chairman steps down

At a staff town hall, Nine Entertainment chief executive Matt Stanton confirmed what most people knew or suspected: that Nine is reviewing its radio division.

Joe Longo.

Government seeks new ASIC boss with Joe Longo set to exit

The announcement that he will not seek reappointment to the high-profile role comes a day after the regulator fronted a Senate inquiry.

Companies are pushing to bolster customer service and back office processes with AI. But what about inside the boardroom?

Gonski’s warning on AI in the boardroom

Businesses are changing customer service and back office functions to use AI. But does AI have a role inside the company boardroom?

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Ownership Matters co-founder Dean Paatsch.

Chairman’s check-up: Do $150,000 board reviews work?

Boards are turning to costly reviews, but some critics say astrology charts may be just as useful.

August

Ari Mervis, executive chairman of Endeavour, which owns Dan Murphy’s and BWS, is leaving after falling out with the board.

Endeavour review could end in the break-up of Dan Murphy’s owner

The hospitality giant has been left without a permanent chief executive or chairman after the abrupt departure of Ari Mervis, who cited a board disagreement.

June

Richard White has more control as WiseTech Global than he has had since the company listed in April 2016.

Rebuilding battered WiseTech’s board, reputation is no small task

What’s more important? Who’s joining the global software company as a director or who’s leaving?

WiseTech director Charles Gibbon with WiseTech founder Richard White.

Richard White’s billionaire supporters to leave WiseTech board

Directors Charles Gibbon and Michael Gregg are leaving the board of the global logistics software business after a raft of scandals and allegations involving its founder Richard White.

May

Businessman David Gonski says that layers of regulation unduly burden directors with liability, causing boardroom discussions to prioritise governance over critical strategic matters that improve operational performance and enhance returns for shareholders.

Director Awards underline importance of greater boardroom diversity

Homogeneity undermines accountability, stifles directors’ willingness to ask management the hard questions, and causes boards to succumb to mere conformity.

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