Female directors who resigned early
March 10, 2023
A typical director will do 6-10 years on a public company board so when someone chooses to go in less than two terms, it should be explained. This list looks at the trend where female directors tend to leave boards after shorter terms, usually without explanation.
Patricia Akopiantz: appointed to the Ramsay Health Care board on April 4, 2015, she resigned abruptly on November 9, 2018 after 3 years and 7 months. There was no inkling of this in the 2017-18 annual report. See director profiles on p12.
Paula Dwyer: joined the Leighton Holdings board in December 2011 and then resigned without explanation at the end of the 2014 AGM after just 2.5 years. apparently after taking on the Spanish bullies who controlled the board.
Paula Dwyer: served on the David Jones board from 2003 until 2006 and then declined to serve another term. The public announcement talked about wanting to focus on other roles when the real issue was more to do with then CEO Mark McInnes, who she felt was a bully.
Jane Hemstritch: appointed to the Telstra board in August 2016 and Jane resigned with immediate effect in January 2019 without serving a full term.The explanation was to pursue her philanthropic interests.
Vickki McFadden: appointed to the Leighton board in June 2013 but quit at the end of the 2014 AGM after 18 months without anyone explaining the situation to shareholders. Again, it was the Spanish bullies
Jackie McArthur: joined the Blackmores board in early 2018 and resigned effective immediately without explanation in August 2019, along with another female director, Helen Nash. Apparently there were issues with the way chairman Marcus Blackmore went about it.
Sheila McGregor: joined then Seven West Media board in June 2015 and then quit in February 2017 after it refused to sack CEO Tim Worner after the Amber Harrison revelations but she never publicly explained her reasons.
Helen Nash: spent 6 years on the Blackmores board before resigning effective immediately without explanation in August 2019, along with fellow female director Jackie McArthur. Apparently there were issues with the way chairman Marcus Blackmore went about it.
Margaret Searle: appointed to the Ramsay Health Care board on April 28, 2015, she resigned abruptly on October 31, 2018 after 3.5 years. There was no inkling of this in the 2017-18 annual report. See director profiles on p12.
Current male directors who have served than 10 years on an ASX100 board
Peter Polson: joined the Challenger board as chairman in June 2004 and still going in 2022.
Directors who extended their tenure through a takeover or demerger
Harry Boon: Chair of Tatts for 14 years from the float until 2020 Tabcorp takeover where he negotiated himself a seat on the Tabcorp board, which he retains.
Rick Allert: Nat Mut board from 1992 until 2011 (19 years), then eked out 3 more on AMP until 2014 then was still chairing an AMP super trustee by the time Hayne came around in 2019. Good night.
James Graham: 20 years on Wesfarmers and now 3 years as chair of Coles after demerger. Is 75 - given someone else a go.
David Crawford: 20 years on BHP then chaired spun-off South32 from 2015 until 2019 for a 25 year run. Ridiculous. Rupert the worst at 70 years - happy 92nd for tomorrow.
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