ASX-listed chairs rushed into the job
June 7, 2021
We are of the view that a director needs at least 12 months on a board before taking over as chair. This list tracks chairs of ASX100 companies who were rushed into the job.
David Jones, immediate: Gordon Cairns was announced as a new director and was instantly appointed chairman on March 10, 2014, with incumbent Peter Mason departing on the same day.
Woolworths, immediate: Gordon Cairns was announced as a new director and was instantly appointed chairman on September 1, 2015 with incumbent Ralph Waters departing on the same day.
AMP, immediate: Catherine Brenner quit on April 30, 2018 and was temporarily replaced by Mike Wilkins as executive chairman. David Murray was then announced as the new chair on May 4, 2018 and commenced on June 21, 2018 not spending a single day on the board as anything but chairman. However, there was a 51 days gap between chairs with Mike Wilkins acting in the role over period.
Asciano, one month: Malcolm Broomhead was appointed to the board in September 2009 and replaced Tim Poole as chairman within one month.
Myer, two months: Paul McClintock was appointed to the board in August 2013, and had replaced Howard McDonald as chairman by October.
Rio Tinto, two months: announced in January 2009 that Jim Leng would join the board and replace Paul Skinner as chairman in March that year. However, he only lasted one meeting.
OZ Minerals, two months: Neil Hamilton joined the board in February 2010 and was chairman within two months.
REA Group, two months: News Corp appointed Hamish McLennan to the board in February 2012, and he succeeded Richard Freudenstein two months later.
Arrium, three months: After Peter Smedley stayed way too long, his successor, Jerry Maycock, joined the board in August 2014 and was chairman just three months later.
Aristocrat Leisure, three months: Dr Ian Blackburne was finally cleared by the regulators to join the board in September 2010 and succeeded David Simpson in December 2010.
Qantas, three months: Leigh Clifford was appointed as a director in August 2007, and had succeeded chair Margaret Jackson by November that year.
Newcrest Mining, four months: Peter Hay joined the board in August 2013 and succeeded Don Mercer as chairman in December that year.
Fairfax Media, five months: Nick Falloon was appointed to the board in March 2015, and succeeded Roger Corbett at the end of August.
Rio Tinto, seven months: current chairman Jan du Plessis joined the board in September 2008 and was appointed chairman in April 2009.
Novion Property Group, seven months: Peter Hay joined the CFS Retail board in July 2014, and by February 2015 he was being announced as the proposed chairman of a combined Novion-Federation Centres.
National Australia Bank, nine months: Michael Chaney only joined the board in December 2004 but replaced Graham Kraehe as chairman nine months later in September 2005.
Ten Network Holdings, 12 months: Hamish McLennan was appointed CEO in March 2013, and then stepped up to be executive chairman in March 2014.
Aristocrat Leisure: Neil Chatfield formally joined the board in February 2017 and succeeded Ian Blackburne as chair in February 2019.
Westpac, 13 months: Leon Davis joined the board in November 1999 and succeeded his old Rio Tinto colleague John Uhrig in December 2000.
AMP, 14 months: Simon McKeon was appointed to the board on March 27, 2013 and assumed the chair from Peter Mason 14 months later in May 2014, but then resigned in 2016.
Coles Myer, 16 months: Stan Wallis joined the board in March 1996 and succeeded Nobby Clarke as chairman in July 1997.
ASX, 17 months: David Gonski was appointed to the board in May 2007 and replaced Maurice Newman as chairman after the October 2008 AGM.
Santos, 20 months: Peter Coates joined the board in March 2008 and became chairman in December 2009.
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