CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS – AUSTRALIA – APPOINTMENTS AND RETIREMENTS

Blackley back on board for SCM M&A bonanza

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 35 : 1-Jun-15

Southern Cross Media Group chairman Peter Bush expects mergers in Australia’s media sector if cross-media ownership laws are changed. He says the industry expertise of new CEO Grant Blackley will be an asset when dealing with the new media landscape. Bush adds that one of Blackley’s key tasks will be to assess the group’s "peak value". Blackley is a former CEO of the Ten Network.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KEYSTONE GROUP PTY LTD

Blackley to work on keeping Ten

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 29-May-15

Former Ten Network CEO Grant Blackley will become CEO of Southern Cross Media Group on 29 June 2015. He has indicated that the regional broadcaster will seek to negotiation a new affiliation agreement with Ten as quickly as possible, but has not ruled out ending the alliance. Blackley will receive a base salary of $A1.05m at Southern Cross, plus an incentives package.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KIIS1065, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, KEYSTONE GROUP PTY LTD, FOUR SEASONS MEDIA PTY LTD

Cochlear looks to new CEO for kick-start

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 27-May-15

Australian-listed Cochlear has advised that the head of its North American division, Chris Smith, will succeed CEO Chris Roberts in September 2015. Roberts has been CEO since 2004, and Cochlear has indicated that it wants to place more emphasis on lifting sales and revenue under Smith. He will join Cochlear in the role of deputy CEO on 1 July. Cochlear shares closed 1.4 per cent higher at $A88.66 on 26 May.

CORPORATES
COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, RESMED INCORPORATED – ASX RMD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, NUCLEUS GROUP, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, ATLASSIAN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS’ UNION

Southern Cross wants CEO ready for deals

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 12-May-15

Heidrick & Struggles has been hired to find a successor to Southern Cross Media Group CEO Rhys Holleran, who will step down on 31 July 2015. Non-executive chairman Peter Bush will take up the role of executive chairman until Holleran’s replacement is appointed. Bush says priorities for the new CEO will include reversing a downturn in revenue and preparing the group for potential cross-media ownership reforms.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, HEIDRICK AND STRUGGLES AUSTRALIA LIMITED, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KIIS1065, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Beston IPO to follow lobster, dairy stakes

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 9-Apr-15

Former WorleyParsons executive Sean Ebert has become CEO of Beston Global Food Company ahead of its proposed Australian sharemarket float in July 2015. Beston has also appointed GrainCorp chairman Don Taylor and formers Santos chairman Stephen Gerlach to its board. Meanwhile, it has acquired stakes in live lobster exporter Ferguson Australia and biodynamic dairy firm B.-d. Paris Creek

CORPORATES
BESTON GLOBAL FOOD COMPANY LIMITED, FERGUSON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, B D FARM PARIS CREEK PTY LTD, GRAINCORP LIMITED – ASX GNC, WORLEYPARSONS LIMITED – ASX WOR, IOOF HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX IFL, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, INDEPENDENT GROCERS OF AUSTRALIA, BESTON WINE INDUSTRY TRUST, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF

Breville wants ‘internet of things’ future

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 8-Apr-15

Australian-listed Breville Group has advised that LG executive Jim Clayton will become CEO in July 2015. Breville chairman Steven Fisher says the company will pursue growth by developing a range of household appliances that are connected to the internet, with a focus on Wi-Fi in particular. However, he has ruled out an expansion into the wearable technology sector

CORPORATES
BREVILLE GROUP LIMITED – ASX BRG, LG ELECTRONICS INCORPORATED, APPLE INCORPORATED, JAWBONE, FITBIT INCORPORATED, GARMIN LIMITED, SYMPHONY TECHNOLOGY GROUP, SYMPHONY-METRO, McKINSEY AND COMPANY, THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INCORPORATED, KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL

Ex-BHP ace steps into Orica role

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 24-Mar-15

Australian-listed explosives group Orica has appointed Alberto Calderon as interim CEO, although chairman Russell Caplan has declined to comment on whether he will be a contender to take on the role permanently. Outgoing CEO Ian Smith was originally slated to remain at the helm during a search for a successor, but the Orica board decided that this was not appropriate. Smith’s management style had attracted some criticism at Orica

CORPORATES
ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM

Ex-Orica CEO admits he can be ‘aggressive’

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 & 24 : 19-Mar-15

Shares in explosives group Orica closed 5.3 per cent lower at $A18.20 on 18 March 2015, in response to the imminent departure of CEO Ian Smith. He will remain in the role until Orica concludes an international search for his successor. Smith concedes that his management style had sometimes caused conflict with other Orica executive, but stresses that he had been working hard to change for the better. Chairman Russell Caplan says the group will continue to pursue its current strategy

CORPORATES
ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, THE BLACKSTONE GROUP LP, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP

Myer’s new British CEO gets a tough welcome from investors

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 3-Mar-15

Shares in Myer Holdings shed 11 per cent to close at $A1.1655 on 2 March 2015 following the resignation of CEO Bernie Brookes. He will be succeeded by former Woolworths executive Richard Umbers, while Daniel Bracken has been appointed deputy CEO. Umbers was previously Myers’ chief information and supply chain officer. He says the new management team will adopt a customer-centric focus and look at the type of customers Myer has now and people who are likely to be customers in the future. Myer CFO Mark Ashby has also resigned

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA POST, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, TPG CAPITAL LP, DAVID JONES LIMITED, EZCORP INCORPORATED, ZARA, TOP SHOP, UNIQLO COMPANY LIMITED, SEPHORA USA LLC, HENNES OCH MAURITZ AB, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, DEBENHAMS RETAIL PLC

Telstra reshuffle likely as Thodey departs

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Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 23-Feb-15

Analysts have suggested that senior executives at Telstra could leave the telco after being overlooked as the successor to CEO David Thodey. CFO Andy Penn will replace Thodey on 1 May 2015, but the telco has a number of senior executive who have the potential to be CEO, and there is speculation that some may leave to pursue CEO roles elsewhere. Meanwhile, Cynthia Whelan and Mark Hall are regarded as the most likely internal candidates to replace Penn as CFO

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED – ASX SGT