CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS – AUSTRALIA – APPOINTMENTS AND RETIREMENTS

Bullish Neilson takes stock

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Original article by Cliona O’Dowd
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 23-Feb-18

Platinum Asset Management has posted a 2017-18 interim profit of $A102.2m, which is seven per cent higher than previously, while revenue was up 15 per cent at $A185.9m. Meanwhile, Platinum’s co-founder and chief investment officer Andrew Clifford will succeed CEO Kerr Neilson in mid-2018. Neilson has downplayed his decision to step down, adding that he will still be actively involved in the company. He says retail investors should be cautious about investing in exchange-traded funds. He also suggests that while China’s economic growth is likely to slow, the nation’s economy will remain strong.

CORPORATES
PLATINUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX PTM

Abboud on list as Myer chases chief

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Original article by Bridget Carter
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 21-Feb-18

Department store group Myer Holdings has engaged the services of executive search firm Spencer Stuart to find a successor to dumped CEO Richard Umbers. Spencer Stuart is said to be in the early stages of identifying potential candidates, but former David Jones CEO Paul Zahra is believed to be the leading contender for the role. Other potential candidates are said to include ex-Dick Smith Holdings CEO Nick Abboud and PAS Group CEO Eric Morris. Abboud and Morris have both previously held executive roles at Myer.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, SPENCER STUART AND ASSOCIATES, DAVID JONES LIMITED, DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED, THE PAS GROUP LIMITED – ASX PGR, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV, BRISCOES, CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE GROUP, HOLT RENFREW AND COMPANY LIMITED, FOSCHINI GROUP

Domain chief to fix culture

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 20-Feb-18

Property listings group Domain Holdings has posted a 2017-18 interim loss of $A3.4m. It was Domain’s first result since it was spun off by Fairfax Media, and the company’s interim earnings before significant items fell eight per cent to $A24.7m on a pro forma basis. Domain is undertaking a global search for a new CEO, and executive chairman Nick Falloon says the successful applicant will be required to address the corporate culture issues that led to the resignation of former CEO Antony Catalano.

CORPORATES
DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, REVIEW PROPERTY, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Power departs a job well done

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 19 : 16-Feb-18

Fortescue Metals Group has slashed its gross debt and ramped up iron ore production since Nev Power became CEO in mid-2011. Production costs have also been reduced from an average of $US53.23 per tonne to $US12.08. Power will step down as CEO on 16 February, and he has flagged the likelihood of taking on a number of directorships in his post-Fortescue career. However, Power doubts that he will accept another full-time executive position, and he has ruled out a career in politics.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, CREDIT SUISSE AG, JP MORGAN AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC

New Foxtel chief in hunt for millennials

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 19 : 1-Feb-18

Patrick Delany has succeeded Peter Tonagh as CEO of pay-TV group Foxtel ahead of its merger with Fox Sports Australia. Delany has been CEO of Fox Sports since 2011, and previously held a number of roles at Foxtel. He has flagged plans to expand Foxtel’s customer base, with a focus on increasing its market share among audience segments such as millennials. The merger of Foxtel and Fox Sports is expected to be completed within months.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH

Minefield for new CBA boss

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal, Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 30-Jan-18

The head of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s retail banking division, Matt Comyn, will succeed Ian Narev as CEO in April. His remuneration will be 15 per cent lower, with a base salary of $A2.2m plus short-term and long-term incentives. Comyn’s appointment follows a global search for Narev’s successor, and CBA chair Catherine Livingstone says Comyn had the board’s full support. CBA’s retail banking division has attracted scrutiny over a money-laundering scandal, but Livingstone stresses that it was a company-wide issue.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, FINANCE SECTOR UNION, BERRILL AND WATSON, COMMINSURE

Domain dives as Catalano quits

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 15 & 24 : 23-Jan-18

The market capitalisation of property listings group Domain Holdings was slashed by $A420m on 22 January, after the sudden resignation of CEO Antony Catalano sparked a sharp fall in its share price. The stock closed 17.2 per cent lower at $A2.75 as investors pondered the reason for Catalano’s departure just two months after Domain was spun off by Fairfax Media. Independent director Greg Ellis has been touted as a potential successor to Catalano. He currently heads Scout24 in Germany and he is a former CEO of Domain rival REA Group.

CORPORATES
DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SCOUT24 HOLDING GMBH, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, TPG CAPITAL LP, HELLMAN AND FRIEDMAN, ONTARIO TEACHERS’ PENSION PLAN

Fortescue boasts a few female firsts in corporate shake-up

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 22 : 1-Dec-17

Fortescue Metals announced 30 November that Elizabeth Gaines is to replace outgoing CEO Nev Power, making Gaines the first female to head up a major Australian mining firm. Greg Lilleyman, who had been seen as a contender with Gaines to replace Power, has been promoted from director of operations to chief operating officer, while Julie Shuttleworth, currently in charge of Fortescue’s Solomon operations, has been appointed to the newly created role of deputy CEO. It is believed it makes Fortescue the first ASX 200 company to have females occupying the top two executive roles.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Warburton appointed APN Outdoor chief

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 18-Oct-17

Former Ten Network CEO James Warburton will succeed Richard Herring as CEO of APN Outdoor Group in January 2018. APN Outdoor CFO Wayne Castle will continue in the role of acting CEO until Warburton joins the outdoor advertising group. Warburton will step down as CEO of V8 Supercars at the end of 2017. Its EBITDA and revenue rose strongly with him at the helm. Warburton’s past roles included being a director of the Eye Corp outdoor advertising business when it was owned by Ten.

CORPORATES
APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED – ASX APO, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, V8 SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, EYE CORP LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, DDB NEEDHAM, McCANN-ERICKSON ADVERTISING PTY LTD, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, OOH!MEDIA LIMITED – ASX OML, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

QBE chief out as investors revolt

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 13-Sep-17

QBE Insurance Group has advised that Pat Regan will succeed CEO John Neal in January 2018. Neal’s resignation after five years in the role follows a 25 per cent fall in the general insurer’s share price since it revealed another earnings downgrade in June. QBE has announced a total of eight such downgrades since he took the helm. Shares in QBE closed 2.5 per cent higher at $A10.50 on 12 September.

CORPORATES
QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE, VELOCITY TRADE LIMITED, INSURANCE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AVIVA PLC