In tomorrow's economy, leaders who innovate service and CX will have the upper hand

With an increased shift to online transactions during COVID-19, service innovation and customer experience (CX) are skyrocketing as priorities for many businesses and leaders. E-commerce growth rose by 80 per cent in the eight weeks following the World Health Organisation's (WHO) declaration of a pandemic. Man...

Accessible online courses pave path to pandemic recovery

Businesses and organisations across the country are lending a hand where they can during the COVID-19 crisis, whether it be out of compassion, mutual interest or what economists call positive externalities. In the case of The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School, one area this spirit of solidarity can be seen is through the ...

'Leadership is learnable', says doctor on the COVID-19 frontline

There are few places right now where leadership and risk management are as paramount as in a hospital, especially if you're the director of an infectious diseases unit. This is exactly the role of Dr Alex Chaudhuri from The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) in Brisbane, who also sees patients as an infectious disease physician while bala...

Amazon VP Pete Sauerborn takes on Catch.com leadership

A former executive at US e-commerce giant Amazon has been appointed as the managing director of Catch.com. Pete Sauerborn (pictured) will take the reins at Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) owned Catch, bringing with him two decades of experience in technology and retail. Catch sits underneath Wesfarmers' department store division Kmart Group...

How to future-proof for a decade of disruption

The future came knocking faster than anyone could have imagined with the outbreak of COVID-19, thrusting many businesses headfirst into completely digital models and prompting a rethink of their modus operandi. How the new economy will evolve during and after the pandemic is uncertain, but there is a strong likelihood that trends around r...

A leader's guide to surviving coronavirus

As the coronavirus crisis sweeps the globe, I've had many people asking me: "Who would want to be a corporate leader at the moment?". The business world has never seen anything like this. No industry is immune to the uncertainty that has engulfed us. Every CEO and executive team is under extreme pressure. Who in their right ...

Steenackers mulls life after National Veterinary Care takeover

The founder and CEO of National Veterinary Care (ASX: NVL) plans to turn his attention to new health and technology ventures if shareholders vote in favour of VetPartners' $250 million takeover bid next month. After announcing a stellar result for the first half with revenue surging 30 per cent to $69 million and profits up by mo...

oOh!media founder and CEO to step down after 30 years

The founder of oOh!media (ASX: OML) Brendon Cook has announced his intention to step down from his role of managing director and CEO of the advertising and media company. His resignation follows 30 successful years leading the business made famous for its unmissable billboards and digital signage campaigns. Cook will remain on the boa...

Former Barclays exec John McFarlane to chair Westpac

Westpac (ASX: WBC) has appointed John McFarlane (pictured) as chairman after the AUSTRAC money laundering scandal triggered Lindsay Maxstead's resignation from the role. McFarlane is the former chairman of British multinational investment bank Barclays and has more than four decades' experience in the financial services sector. ...

Australian business leaders the most pessimistic over climate change

While Australia has one of the world's lowest rankings on climate change policy, our business leaders have a much stronger belief than others worldwide that climate change will bring negative impacts to their industries.  A new global report from Deloitte found 81 per cent of Aussie execs believe they will be adversely affected b...

Mining magnate Andrew Forrest pledges $70 million to bushfire relief

Billionaire Andrew Forrest (pictured) has pledged to donate $70 million toward the bushfire response and recovery process. Forrest, the former CEO of Australian iron ore mining company Fortescue Metals Group, will donate the $70 million via his philanthropic organisation Minderoo Foundation. The charity will break down its donation wi...

Business Council calls on companies to support bushfire relief

The Business Council of Australia has called on its members to support Australians suffering from the ongoing bushfire crisis by coordinating to provide supplies and relief. In addition to two key trusts, the BCA is encouraging businesses with employees voluntarily fighting the bushfires to support those staff with a minimum of 20 days pa...

The art of teamwork: five ways to take collaboration to the next level

A strong, united team in the workplace is important, and for good reason.  Companies that promote and encourage collaborative work are five times more likely to be high performing. Teamwork is essential to driving business forward; staff that work together in an engaged, honest and transparent are far more productive than those t...

Global travel demands lead to A2 Milk boss resignation

The CEO of the a2 Milk Company (ASX: A2M) has resigned as the company continues to grow and succeed overseas. Managing director and CEO Jayne Hrdlicka has agreed to step down from her role and will be replaced on an interim basis by former CEO Geoffrey Babidge. Over the last 18 months Hrdlicka has driven the company's internationa...

Canva co-founder Cameron Adams joins Mogul board

Canva co-founder and chief product officer Cameron Adams (pictured centre) has joined the board of listed esports company Mogul (ASX: ESH) as a non-executive director. The company says Adams' appointment is part of the group's focus on building a board that can provide stronger strategic direction to Mogul as it moves towards mone...

Feels like we only go backwards: ASX board diversity falling

The push to get more women on ASX 200 boards has hit a roadblock with rates of female appointments falling according to the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). The AICD's latest Gender Diversity Quarterly Report notes women now represent 29.5 per cent of directors on ASX 200 boards, down from 29.7 per cent in July. I...

Suncorp exec to take the wheel at RACQ

Suncorp's (ASX: SUN) CEO of banking and wealth David Carter (pictured) has stepped down to take on a new role. Carter will leave the Brisbane-based company in early 2020 to take on the role of CEO at Queensland motoring body RACQ. Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston, who was appointed to lead the company in early September, says Carter led...

Westpac CFO Peter King announces retirement

After 25 years with the bank Peter King (pictured) has announced he will step down as chief financial officer of Westpac (ASX: WBC). King will reitre from the role he has held at the bank since 2014 in 2020, giving the bank 12 months' notice of his retirement today. CEO Brian Hartzer says that King will be missed at the bank, cong...

Suncorp names new CEO

Long-term Suncorp (ASX: SUN) employee Steve Johnston (pictured) has been named as the new CEO and managing director of the Brisbane-based financial services business. He replaces former CEO Michael Cameron who resigned after four years in the role. Johnston joined Suncorp in 2006 and has held various executive positions in the company...

How Complete Business Travel is riding the wave of success

At the recent 2019 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards the team at Complete Business Travel (CBT) knew they were in with a chance. Few other travel management companies could match their expertise and personal service and they had been finalists for the last 4 years. Then at the gala night in Sydney they finally heard the words: &quo...