You’ve got to hand it to Don Argus. The former CEO of NAB, turned Australia’s most prolific board member, certainly is willing to speak his mind.
Don argus
Argus and Crawford rail against basic accountability
One of the biggest problems with Australia’s corporate governance over the past few decades has been the way a clubby network of powerful Melbourne-based directors have worked against the basic principle of accountability for poor performance.
Gottliebsen: the bulls are stirring
Global share traders are excited and are pushing American and international shares higher, writes Robert Gottliebsen, of Business Spectator.
Power Shots: Truckies split on convoy protest … The Don takes willow to cricket heavies …
Bruce McIver is the driving force behind Queensland’s new Liberal National Party and the man who brought about the 2008 merger of the state’s two right-of-center parties. Also, truckies are split on convoy protest, and more…
Media briefs: McCrann on Argus … a Speakeasy postscript … News Corp’s BSkyB bid …
In today’s Media Briefs: Terry McCrann kowtows to BHP chairman, News Corporation’s bid for complete control of BSkyB, Google tries to predict Oscar winners, Whoop Goldberg says “whoops” and more…
New tax a win for common sense and for the PM
While the opposition looks set to oppose the MRRT, Julia Gillard has come up with what appears to be a very well-designed compromise in a remarkably short time.
RSPT debate: Wayne Swan’s day of reckoning
My ALP contacts tell me that Treasury has had no experience in mining projects put together by the states and they genuinely had no idea of the impact of the RSPT, writes Robert Gottliebsen.
Mayne: Mining slug mainly hits multinationals, so who cares?
The new mining tax is a good initiative by the Rudd government. Tony Abbott should get behind a move that slugs huge foreign companies but benefits little Aussie battlers.
Memo ASZ, ASIC: no pussyfooting … get tough with BHP
ASIC and the ASX should force BHP to reveal all board briefings and advice on its recent disclosure about a possible involvement in corruption.
BHP chief calls it a day: is Don, is (somewhat clouded) good
The recent retirement of Don Argus as chairman of BHP Billiton has brought a predictable sea of tributes from a wide array of sources.
Mayne: Women directors not up to the job, says Chaney
It’s time to shame Australia’s corporate boardrooms into action on female representation: there is now a need for legislation, regulation and direct action.
Shock. Horror. Australian to run top 10 company
The biggest shock in this morning’s CEO succession announcement from NAB was that an Australian has elevated to the top position, writes Stephen Mayne.
Stephen Mayne’s boardroom dreaming
The December issue of The AFR Magazine has sparked plenty of debate by naming a so-called “Dream Team” board. BHP-Billiton chairman Don Argus is pictured on the cover as our best chairman and then nine other directors are listed. Only two of them make my top 10 directors.
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Tony Jones won’t replace Kerry O’Brien … Don Argus … Politicians abiding by the scouting code … Costello’s legacy … Therese Rein … Penny Wong …
Don Argus, AFR “Dreamteam” chairman
While Don Argus enjoyed a stellar career as CEO of NAB during the 1990s, his career as a director has been mixed, writes Adam Schwab.
Gilbertson’s foresight vindicated by BHP’s Rio move
One man who couldn’t help but feel more than a little vindicated following BHP’s long awaiting move on Rio is former Billiton boss, Brian Gilbertson, who was sacked by BHP Chairman, Don Argus, in early 2003 after going behind the board’s back and approaching Rio regarding a merger, writes Adam Schwab.
We’ll all be rooned, said Costello
Peter Costello at it again, predicting a “huge tsunami” is set to engulf financial markets. And that’s why the Reserve Bank shouldn’t lift interest rates. Or something like that, writes Michael Pascoe.
How the big boys ran, hid and were protected at the AFIC AGM
The old boys network is alive and well in Melbourne if yesterday’s annual meeting of AFIC, the $6 billion JB Were-affiliated listed investment company, is any guide, writes Stephen Mayne.
