Archived News for Executives and Senior Management
Former directors of now insolvent Opes Prime Stockbroking Lirim Emini and Anthony Blumberg have pleaded guilty to charges relating to the collapse of the firm in 2008.
The two directors officially entered a guilty plea after breaching their duties as company directors. The collapse of the firm left over $630 million owed to creditors.
Mr Emini admitted to using his position of director of Leveraged Capital Ltd to gain an advantage for himself, after which he transferred around $100 million worth of securities between Opes Prime and Leveraged Capital over the July 2006 to February 2008 period.
Corporate insolvencies on the rise
Official figures released by ASIC reveal that corporate insolvencies have risen 4.4% in the 2010-11 financial year to date.
ASIC’s Senior Executive Leader of the Insolvency Practitioners team, Adrian Brown, said that despite a decrease in external administration appointments in May compared to the same time last year, the latest figures show the number of court liquidations and director initiated creditors voluntary liquidations have risen.
"Statistics collated by ASIC up to and including May 2011, show court liquidations in Australia rose 8.6% and director initiated creditors voluntary liquidations rose 7.6%. Western Australia is also seeing its fair share of corporate insolvencies, despite suggestions that it’s in the fast lane of a two speed economy," Mr Brown said.
"Interestingly, receivership and voluntary administration appointments, Australia-wide, have fallen," Mr Brown added.
ASIC publishes monthly insolvency statistics detailing the number and type of corporate insolvency appointments. External administrators, (liquidators, receivers and managers and voluntary administrators) are obliged by law to advise ASIC of their appointments.
Telstra management overhaul aims to boost customer focus
Telstra CEO, David Thodey, has announced major changes to the company’s operations to position it for future development.
Change of guard in energy and resources associations
Four peak energy and resources industry associations are currently recruiting chief executives.
Former Telstra executive joins Quickflix
Former director of Telstra Media Chris Taylor has been appointed as Quickflix’s new CEO, effective immediately.
Mark Britt appointed as ninemsn CEO
Mark Britt has been appointed to chief executive of ninemsn, after outgoing CEO Joe Pollard departs the digital joint venture in September.
Ravi Bhatia steps down from Primus
Primus Telecom has been left to secure a new chief executive after Ravi Bhatia announced his surprise resignation from the post.
NAB headhunts ANZ manager
National Australia Bank (NAB) has confirmed the poaching of Michael Saadie ANZ’s head of corporate banking Australia, placing him in the role of general manager for NAB Corporate.
ASIC calls for improved company reporting
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has highlighted a number of focus areas for directors in 30 June 2011 financial reports after releasing the results of its reviews of financial reports for the year ended 31 December 2010.
Defence Materiel Organisation head quits
Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) head Dr Stephen Gumley has announced his resignation, effective immediately.
Rio Tinto adds John Varley to board
Rio Tinto has appointed John Varley, the former chief executive of Barclays, as a non-executive director to its board of directors in the UK and Australia, commencing on September 1.
New members appointed to VicHealth
The Victorian Health Minister David Davis has announced the appointment of eight new members to the board of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation.
New chair for Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee
Doctor Suzanne Hill has been appointed as the new chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), the independent advisory group which recommends listing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Melbourne School of Engineering seeking senior appointees
One of the world's outstanding engineering schools, the Melbourne School of Engineering, is inviting applications for up to fifteen continuing appointments from engineering scholars of international distinction, committed to excellence and innovation in education and research.
BRW publishes rich list
BRW has published its 2011 Rich 200 list, with Hancock Prospecting’s Chairman Gina Rinehart, the first woman to top the list in its 28-year history, recording a personal worth of $10.3 billion.
Productivity Commission to study regulatory reform options
The Productivity Commission is to undertake a study focusing on effective identification of regulatory reform opportunities and the evaluation of reform outcomes.
CAMAC pushes for greater executive pay secrecy
The federal government’s corporate law advisory council, the Corporations and Markers Advisory Committee (CAMAC), has announced its recommendation to only announce take-home pay packets for the nation’s executives.
Lynch to take top Hong Kong job
Distinguished former head of the Sydney Opera House, the Australia Council and Sydney Theatre Company, Michael Lynch has landed the chief executive role of Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.
KPMG appoints Global Chairman
KPMG has appointed Michael Andrew as the firm’s newest Chairman, the first to hold the role from the Asia Pacific region in the company’s history.
Rumours of NSW headhunting AAPT chief
The NSW Government has reportedly poached NZ AAPT chief executive, Paul Broad, to head up the state’s new infrastructure revitalization project.
Report shows executive itinerancy
Almost half of all executives surveyed in Executive Monitor’s latest report indicated they are planning to look for a new job in 2011, despite only 22% of the participating executives saying they are dissatisfied with their current employment.