This was published 9 years ago
Rupert Murdoch calls. Who's who of business answers
By Carolyn Cummins and Max Mason
The captains of industry were out in force for a chat and mingle with media's mightiest mogul, News Corp's Rupert Murdoch, on Tuesday.
Amid tight security at one of Sydney's most lavish restaurants, Catalina in Rose Bay, Mr Murdoch was flanked by his son Lachlan and daughter-in-law Sarah as well as outgoing News Corp Australia boss Julian Clarke as he rushed inside.
Rupert Murdoch's security did a great job of making themselves known at Catalina.Credit: Louie Douvis
The media conglomerate hired out the entire restaurant for the afternoon shindig, which brought out a who's who of top executives from financial services, aviation, retail, media, sporting chiefs and even the odd politician.
Among the big names were Ian Narev, chief teller at CBA, former Telstra boss and incoming CSIRO chairman David Thodey, former Ten boss Hamish McLennan, Seven Group chiefs Tim Worner and Ryan Stokes, Qantas boss Alan Joyce, outgoing Woolies' CEO Grant O'Brien, Harvey Norman's Gerry Harvey and Katie Page, Foxtel's Richard Freudenstein, Fox Sports' Patrick Delany, incoming News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller, NSW Premier Mike Baird, and Crown Resorts co-chair Rob Rankin and James Packer's media man Mark Arbib.
Mr Murdoch also hosted the heads of Australia's biggest sporting codes: round baller David Gallop, NRL boss Dave Smith, ruggers man Bill Pulver and head of the AFL Gill McLachlan.
News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson gave Mr Murdoch a brief introduction before than man himself introduced his board, which he brought with him from the United States, to business, political and sporting leaders.
After introductions, the high-powered room sat down for lunch. The event was described as a low-key, informal and social get together for advertisers and clients.
CBD can confirm that no Fairfax Media journalists were offered canapés, let alone entrance into the event, and remained quite hungry throughout the ordeal.