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Board of directors
Board of directors
Howard McDonald
Chairman
Independent Non-Executive Director
Member of the Board since 6 November 2006
Non-Executive Chairman since 4 August 2009
Member – Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Howard brings significant retail and fashion experience to the Myer business with 35 years of experience in consumer goods industries.
Howard was previously Managing Director of The Just Group, from December 1997 to September 2006, during which time he repositioned and expanded the Group. In 2001, he led the Just Jeans Group into Australia’s first public to private management buyout and in May 2004 Just Group was re-listed on the ASX. Just Group Ltd is the largest specialty apparel retailer in Australasia with over 800 stores. Its stable of brands includes Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, Peter Alexander Sleepwear and Dotti.
Prior to this, Howard held a number of roles within the Pacific Dunlop Group across Footwear, Clothing and Textiles, and Corporate, including heading up Corporate Affairs for Pacific Dunlop, where he sat on all the Management Boards of this diversified conglomerate. Howard’s time at Pacific Dunlop culminated in the role of Managing Director of Pacific Brands Clothing, where he focused on offshore manufacturing, international marketing and textile manufacturing, managing brands such as Bonds, Holeproof, Berlei, Jockey and others.
Howard holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Monash University and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Howard resides in Victoria and is 60 years of age.
Other current directorships
Howard is currently Chairman of Rodd & Gunn Australia Limited (a Myer supplier) and Rodd & Gunn New Zealand Limited and a Director of General Pants Co. Pty Ltd (a Myer competitor).
Anne Brennan
Independent Non-Executive Director
Member of the Board since 16 September 2009
Chair – Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Member – Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Anne brings to the Myer business strong financial credentials and business experience. Anne has worked in a variety of senior management roles in both large corporates and professional services firms.
Anne was the Finance Director of the Coates Group during 2008 and 2009 and prior to that she was the CFO for CSR and was a board member for a number of CSR’s investment companies. She has extensive experience in financial management, treasury, audit, risk management, tax, investor relations and ASX and statutory reporting.
Prior to her role at CSR, Anne was a partner in three professional services firms: KPMG, Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young, initially in the audit practice and, in the 10 years before joining CSR, as a partner in Corporate Finance and Transaction Services practices. Anne was also a member of the national executive team and a board member of Ernst & Young.
Anne holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from University College Galway. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Anne resides in New South Wales and is 50 years of age.
Other current directorships
Anne is a director of the Australia Ireland Fund and a Councillor of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (NSW).
Bernie Brookes
Managing Director and CEO
Member of the Board since 12 July 2006
Bernie was appointed Managing Director and CEO of the Myer Group on 2 June 2006. In his role Bernie has been responsible for the transition of Myer following the separation from the Coles Group and for rebuilding the Myer business under new ownership. Bernie has spent 34 years working within the retail industry in local and international roles in India and China. Prior to joining Myer, Bernie was a Management Director of Woolworths and was a chief architect of Woolworths’ Project Refresh, which reduced costs by more than $5 billion over five years and reinvested the savings back into the business. His Woolworths experience also included a variety of general management positions in three states across the Buying, IT, Marketing and Operations departments.
Bernie has also held a number of roles as president and executive of various industry organisations including Retail Traders Association in Queensland and Victoria and President of the Queensland Grocery Association, and he has assisted on a number of charitable and government ventures and committees.
Bernie has received many awards, including Food Week Retail Executive of the Year, National Retail Association Food Industry Executive of the Year and Food Week Buyer of the Year for four years during the 1980s and 1990s.
Bernie is currently patron of the Australian Joe Berry Memorial Award and the Australian representative judge of the World Retail Awards.
Bernie holds Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education degrees from Macquarie University. Bernie resides in Victoria and New South Wales and is 50 years of age.
Other current directorships
Bernie is a Member of the Advisory Board of First Unity Financial Group.
Tom Flood
Independent Non-Executive Director
Member of the Board since 17 March 2009
Member – Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Tom has been a Director of Myer Pty Ltd since 26 July 2007 and a Director of Myer Holdings Limited since 17 March 2009.
Tom brings to Myer 39 years of experience in the retail industry, with the majority of his career spent in the supermarket industry.
Tom joined Woolworths upon his arrival in Australia. During his time there, Tom assumed the position of General Manager, Supermarkets for Western Australia and subsequently for Victoria (Safeway). In these roles, Tom oversaw all areas of the supermarket business, including buying, marketing, store operations, distribution, finance, security and insurance. Tom was subsequently appointed Chief General Manager Operations for all Woolworths stores in Australia. Following that, Tom was appointed to the role of Director of Supermarkets with overall responsibility for Woolworths’ core supermarkets business.
Tom began his retail career in Ireland with the Superquinn Supermarket Group before moving to London for a role with the United States-owned Safeway Supermarket group. Tom resides in Victoria and is 62 years of age.
Peter Hay
Independent Non-Executive Director
Member of the Board since 3 February 2010
Peter has a strong background in company law and investment banking work, with particular expertise in relation to mergers and acquisitions. He has also had significant involvement in advising governments and government-owned enterprises.
Peter was the Chief Executive of law firm Freehills (2000 to 2005) where he had been partner since 1977.
Peter holds a Law Degree from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Peter resides in Victoria and is 60 years of age.
Other current directorships
Peter is currently Chairman of Lazard Pty Ltd’s Advisory Board, and a Director of Alumina Limited (since 2002). He is a Director of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (since 2008), a Director of GUD Holdings Limited (since 2009) and a Director of NBN Co Limited (since 2009). Peter is also a part-time member of the Takeovers Panel (since 2009). Peter is also a Director of Epworth Foundation (since 2008) and Landcare Australia Ltd (since 2008).
Rupert Myer AM
Independent Non-Executive Director
Member of the Board since 12 July 2006
Chair – Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Member – Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
Rupert holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He became a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2005 for service to the arts, for support of museums and galleries, and the community through a range of philanthropic and service organisations. Rupert resides in Victoria and is 52 years of age.
Other current directorships
Rupert is Chairman of the Myer Family Company Ltd and is a Director of AMCIL Limited and of Diversified United Investment Limited. He is Chairman of the National Gallery of Australia and a Board member of the National Gallery of Australia Foundation.
He also serves as Chairman of Kaldor Public Arts Projects, as a member of The Felton Bequests’ Committee and as a Board member of Jawun – Indigenous Corporate Partnerships.