Super Retail boss Anthony Heraghty parts with some of his shareholding

Super Retail CEO Anthony Heraghty, who is defending allegations he conducted a secret affair with his former head of HR, Jane Kelly, has ceded ownership over $2.65m of shares.

Super Retail former executives turned whistleblowers Rebecca Farrell (L) and Amelia Berczelly (R). Picture: Monique Harmer

Super Retail Group chief executive Anthony Heraghty, who last year was accused by whistleblowers in court documents of a clandestine affair with his then head of human resources, has disposed of $2.65m of shares.

Mr Heraghty updated his shareholding in Super Retail, the retailer that owns brands Rebel, Supercheap Auto, Macpac and BCF, according to a statement issued to the ASX on Monday, which revealed he no longer held an indirect interest in 176,893 shares.

It is believed that the trust in which they are held, A&G Heraghty Trust, was jointly owned with his former spouse.

The statutory update is required because Mr Heraghty is a director of Super Retail.

“The changes give effect to Mr Heraghty’s obligations in connection with [court] orders,” the ASX statement said.

The transfer of shares was part of the finalisation of legal proceedings.

Two former executives at Super Retail, Rebecca Farrell and Amelia Berczelly, in 2024 launched legal action against the company claiming they were victims of workplace bullying and alleged inappropriate conduct, notably an illicit affair between Mr Heraghty and fellow executive Jane Kelly that fostered mistrust inside the ranks.

Super Retail Group chief executive Anthony Heraghty and former head of HR Jane Kelly

Mr Heraghty was married at the time. Super Retail has consistently denied the affair took place, and is defending the claim.

It countered in its defence document that Ms Farrell told Ms Kelly that she didn’t believe rumours of a romance.

Suspicion of the alleged relationship had arisen five years ago, according to court documents lodged in April by Ms Farrell, which included the claim that Mr Heraghty’s wife knew about it.

The same court documents further alleged that during a Super Retail leadership meeting in August 2022 in the NSW coastal suburb of Manly, a staff member allegedly witnessed Mr Heraghty place his hand on Ms Kelly’s thigh.

Court documents state that staff member was Paul Bradshaw, the managing director of BCF.

Super Retail denies the alleged physical intimacy ever happened.

That April court filing included the claim that knowledge of the affair had reached Mr Heraghty’s assistant.

“Heraghty’s wife had accessed Heraghty’s mobile phone device in around March 2023 and discovered that Heraghty had been having an affair with Kelly for around three years prior to that date,” it said.

Super Retail sought to counter this in June when it argued Ms Farrell didn’t believe rumours of the affair, nor was the office gossip widespread.

Meanwhile, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee vented his frustrations over the protracted, overly complex and increasingly expensive case on Monday, warning he could force all parties to sit down and resolve the agreed facts.

Justice Lee expressed his disappointment and frustration and commented that there was an “obsession by Fair Work lawyers on overcomplicating matters” and the increasing number of documents piling up around the case was “completely unacceptable”.

Justice Lee said he wanted to make the case “as simple as possible, using the machinery available to the court to try to resolve this case as expeditiously and inexpensively and as quickly as possible”.

Earlier, counsel for Ms Farrell and Ms Berczelly said repeated court appearances and cross examination could impact their mental health and well being.

Justice Lee reserved some of his frustration for the claimants, Ms Farrell and Ms Berczelly.

“I am not going to allow this case to be unnecessarily complicated by the applicants.”

The case continues.

Originally published as Super Retail boss Anthony Heraghty parts with some of his shareholding