Westpac must start hunt for a new CEO

Original article by Terry McCrann
Herald Sun – Page: 35 : 21-Nov-19

It is inevitable that Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer will have to step down in the wake of the banking sector’s latest money laundering scandal. This will leave ANZ’s Shayne Elliott as the only CEO of a big four bank who was appointed prior to the Hayne royal commission. The only issue for Westpac’s board is whether to opt for an internal or external successor. Meanwhile, questions need to be asked about the failure of Austrac to ensure that Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank were complying with anti-money laundering laws.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

BHP succession once again in the spotlight

Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 20 : 7-Nov-19

BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie took the helm in May 2013, with his appointment having been announced at the resources giant’s half-year results presentation in February of that year. The position of former CEO Marius Kloppers had already come under scrutiny at BHP’s 2012 annual meeting in Australia; given Mackenzie’s tenure, shareholders at the 2019 annual meeting may be seeking guidance on succession planning. However, Mackenzie’s position is much more secure than Kloppers’ was in 2012.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Oil Search taps Wulff as legend Botten retires

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 & 22 : 2-Oct-19

Oil Search’s incoming CEO Keiran Wulff has downplayed suggestions that the Papua New Guinea-focused LNG producer may become a takeover target after Peter Botten steps down. Wulff says that succession planning has been in the works for some time, given that Botten has been at the helm for 25 years. Wulff, who currently heads Oil Search’s operations in Alaska, will succeed Botten in February. However, Botten will remain at Oil Search until August to ensure a smooth transition.

CORPORATES
OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION

CEO turnover soars in Hayne wake

Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 23-Sep-19

Recruitment firm Robert Half has reported that 22 per cent of S&P/ASX 200 CEOs are new from the previous year, up from 20 per cent in 2018. The number of external hires of ASX 200 CEOs has increased, as has the number of CEOs with a background in technology. Just six per cent of ASX 200 CEOs are women, down one per cent, while 14 per cent of ASX 200 CEOs do not hold a diploma or degree.

CORPORATES
ROBERT HALF AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, AFTERPAY TOUCH GROUP LIMITED – ASX APT, COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED – ASX CPU, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, ARISTOCRAT LEISURE LIMITED – ASX ALL, GOODMAN GROUP – ASX GMG, GPT GROUP – ASX GPT

Search narrows for new NAB boss

Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian – Page: 21 : 19-Jun-19

National Australia Bank has declined to comment on progress regarding its search for a successor to former CEO Andrew Thorburn. However, sources have indicated that the shortlist of candidates has been trimmed and NAB has commenced a detailed assessment of internal candidates, who include Mike Baird and Anthony Healy. Thorburn stepped down in the wake of the Hayne royal commission, while NAB chairman Ken Henry will depart when a new CEO is appointed.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, RUSSELL REYNOLDS ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC, BANK OF IRELAND PLC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP

Ita Buttrose names David Anderson as managing director of the ABC

Original article by
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 3-May-19

ABC chair Ita Buttrose announced on 3 May that David Anderson had been appointed as its MD. Anderson had been acting in the role since September, following the sacking of Michelle Guthrie. Buttrose said that the ABC board was unanimous in its choice of Anderson, with his appointment having followed an extensive local and national search. Anderson, who has been with the ABC for almost three decades, said it was "a privilege to be appointed to the role". His appointment is for five years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

NAB narrows list of candidates for CEO

Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 20 : 3-May-19

National Australia Bank’s interim CEO Phil Chronican has indicated that the short-list of contenders to succeed Andrew Thorburn is "manageable". Mike Baird and Anthony Healy are widely regarded as the leading internal candidates for the role. Chronican will become chairman when a permanent CEO is appointed, and he says NAB has taken measures to ensure that his independence as chairman is not compromised due to his current role.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY

McEwan’s RBS exit fuels NAB CEO talk

Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 26-Apr-19

There is growing speculation that Ross McEwan is a contender to succeed Andrew Thorburn as CEO of National Australia Bank, following his resignation as CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland. McEwan has been CEO of RBS since 2013, and it has returned to profitability and reinstated dividends under his leadership. Mike Baird and Anthony Healy are widely seen as the leading internal candidates to replace Thorburn, who resigned in February.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RUSSELL REYNOLDS ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL

Henry should not pick new NAB chief: Costello

Original article by Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 12-Feb-19

Former federal treasurer Peter Costello suggests that regulators’ failure to prosecute misconduct in the financial services sector was due to reluctance to enforce the law rather that funding constraints. Costello also believes that it is inappropriate for National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry to oversee the appointment of a new CEO. Henry will step down after a successor to Andrew Thorburn is recruited. Costello adds that bank directors and executives must prioritise compliance with the law in the wake of the financial services royal commission.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. FUTURE FUND MANAGEMENT AGENCY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Big agenda: Chronican has his work cut out for NAB revival

Original article by Eric Johnston
The Australian – Page: 17 : 11-Feb-19

Anthony Healy and Mike Baird are said to be the leading internal candidates to succeed National Australia Bank CEO Andrew Thorburn, while external contenders could include Craig Drummond, Ross McEwan and Lyn Cobley. Acting CEO Philip Chronican stresses that NAB has a "very clear strategy" that is being well executed. He notes that the last week has been challenging for the bank, with the resignation of Thorburn and chairman Ken Henry and the release of the banking royal commission’s final report.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED