Latest news with #Hrdlicka
The Age
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
‘People around me started sprinting': the Aussie star who unwittingly became part of history
In other puff of white smoke news, Tennis Australia announced that Chris Harrop a 'lifelong tennis fan and social player … (and) advisory partner for global strategy consulting firm Bain & Company' would replace ex-Virgin boss Jayne Hrdlicka as chair of Tennis Australia. Hrdlicka's departure was something that CBD foretold back in October, when TA confirmed to us that her third term on the board would expire at the end of this year. Last month, the exec landed the top job at Dan Murphy's owner Endeavour, but no doubt the tennis gig was her favouritest thing. It allowed Hrdlicka to hold court at O, the lavish Rod Laver Arena Tennis Australia hospitality suites, where tennis legends and sporting, political, business and celebrity creatures enjoyed multi-course dinners before a door at the back of the vast suite opened straight out onto the best seats in the stadium just in time for the match of the day. For a tennis tragic like Hrdlicka, it's a lot to give up WhatAppened? The electoral winds of change have blasted through the Liberal Party, which on Tuesday, made Sussan Ley its first female leader. Although the ABC news chyron that accompanied her debut press conference was a taste of the forces she's up against. 'Ley: I will be here in three years,' it read. That's a vote of confidence! It took the Liberals long enough to enter the 21st century (many are saying they're not there yet). It took Ley's staffers a matter of minutes to purge the remnants of the old leader's office. Ley had barely left the party room on Tuesday when her media adviser, Liam Jones, quickly booted Peter Dutton 's old top spinners, Nicole Chant and Adrian Barrett, from a Coalition Campaign HQ WhatsApp group the party had used during the election to send announcements to journalists. Also gone in a flash: John Hulin, chief of staff to new deputy leader Ted O'Brien. The group chat was quickly renamed 'LOTO Ley – Coord'. CBD was told the whole change was simply a necessary matter of logistics. Whatever the motivations, a fitting symbol of changing times in the Liberal camp. More Mabo trouble Multinational mining company Rio Tinto's bankrolling of the Mabo Centre, a native title initiative at the University of Melbourne, hasn't gone down well with some family members of its namesake, pioneering Indigenous land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo. As CBD reported recently, six of Mabo's grandchildren penned a scathing open letter claiming their grandfather would be 'appalled' at the centre taking money from the company which received global condemnation for its destruction of ancient Indigenous rock sites at Juukan Gorge in 2020. The letter demanded the centre cut ties with Rio. Loading 'Anything less is a betrayal,' they wrote. In response, the centre told us the name had been gifted by members of the Mabo family following extensive engagement. But this week, Mabo granddaughter Boneta-Rie Mabo, one of the authors of the original letter, claimed that some hadn't been consulted. 'My father, Eddie Mabo Jr — the eldest son of Eddie Koiki Mabo and the most senior Mabo family member —didn't even know the Mabo Centre existed until I asked him about it after its launch,' she wrote in an article on IndigenousX. In response, the university sent us the same statement it provided a month ago, telling CBD it stood by the response. 'The centre's name was gifted by senior members of the Mabo family following extensive engagement with them,' the university said. 'The senior Mabo family members were aware of the investment by Rio Tinto ahead of the decision to gift the name.' Clearly, not everyone was. Hanging on the telephone We just have space to note this dispatch from the Geelong Advertiser, where a member of its political team tried for days and days to connect with Liberal senator Sarah Henderson. And lo, on Thursday morning a precious callback. But as the Addy recorded: 'Believing she had called her media adviser and not our intrepid reporter, Henderson launched into an almost minute-long monologue that detailed our efforts to contact her and the reasons why. 'Finally, the spin doctor was asked to convey her unwillingness to talk, for the time being at least. 'Seconds of silence were broken when our correspondent informed the hard-working senator that she had, in fact, called the subject of her spiel. ''Oh sorry, I rang the wrong person,' Henderson responded awkwardly.
AU Financial Review
12-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Tennis Australia names Bain veteran to succeed Hrdlicka
Last month, this column speculated about the succession question at Tennis Australia, where Jayne Hrdlicka 's time as chairwoman was coming to a forced end. The next morning, Hrdlicka was named as the next chief executive and managing director of ASX-listed booze giant Endeavour. Now her heir at the tennis has been announced. Tennis Australia said on Monday that director Chris Harrop would succeed Hrdlicka at the end of this year. The much-fancied president of the AFL's Western Bulldogs, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, didn't throw her hat into the ring. No one did except Harrop.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Endeavour Group appoints new CEO
Australian retail, wine and spirits brands major Endeavour Group has appointed Jayne Hrdlicka as its new CEO and managing director. Hrdlicka will take the reins from Ari Mervis, who stepped in as executive chairman following the departure of former CEO Steve Donohue in March. Donohue, who had served as CEO since 2018, announced his decision to step down in September. Arvis was appointed as Endeavour's new chairman in January, following shareholder tension at its AGM the previous October. In a statement announcing Hrdlicka's appointment, Endeavour said the move, intended 'to deliver the company's next phase of growth', would take effect from 1 January 2026. Until Hrdlicka officially takes on the role, she has agreed to be available to meet 'frequently' with the business to support discussions on 'key business and strategic matters", Endeavour said. Commenting on the news, Mervis said: 'Jayne has a proven track record leading consumer-facing businesses to success. She has led many complex organisations and delivered significant shareholder value by capturing the true potential of a company's brands and assets. 'The board believes Jayne is the ideal candidate to lead Endeavour Group through its next phase of both growth and transformation,' he added. As CEO and managing director of airline business Virgin Australia, Hrdlicka oversaw the company's recovery from administration following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her previous roles include CEO and managing director of the A2 Milk Company and Group CEO of Australian airline company Jetstar. From 2010 to 2016, Hrdlicka was a non-executive director at Woolworths Group, which then housed various liquor brands of Endeavour Group and the ALH Hotel Group. Reflecting on her appointment, Hrdlicka said: 'Endeavour Group is an extraordinary company with an unmatched portfolio of brands and assets in its core categories. 'I have a long history with Endeavour's retail and hotel businesses, initially as a consultant to Woolworths, including on their early liquor strategy, and then as a Woolworths Group board member.' The retailer, drinks producer and hotel business was established in 2018, following the merger of ALH Hotel Groups and Endeavour Drinks. Endeavour's drinks portfolio includes Australian and New Zealand winemakers Paragon Wine Estates, wine, beer and spirits distributor Pinnacle Drinks and Australian fine wine retailer Langtons. The group also owns the Australian liquor store chains Dan Murphy's and BWS, among other retail and hospitality brands. "Endeavour Group appoints new CEO" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Former Virgin Australia boss takes top job at ASX listed company
Former Virgin Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka has announced she will be the new Endeavour Group chief executive at the start of next year. Endeavour Group owns Dan Murphy's and BWS as well as more than 350 pubs. Ms Hrdlicka stepped down from Virgin Australia earlier this year, after a near four-year stint in the job. During her time she helped navigate the airline – owned by Bain Capital following its collapse during the Covid-19 pandemic – into a major deal with Qatar airways. Ms Hrdlicka will start on January 1, 2026. The company has been searching for a new boss since Steve Donohue left late last year, with executive chairman Ari Mervis stepping into the role in the meantime. 'I have a long history with Endeavour's retail and hotel businesses, initially as a consultant to Woolworths, including on their early liquor strategy, and then as a Woolworths Group board member,' Ms Hrdlicka said. 'Endeavour Group has much to play for. I look forward to working with the 30,000+ team members.' Ms Hrdlicka has extensive experience as a senior executive and non-executive director at some of Australia's best known consumer businesses and brands. Prior to that role she was chief executive of the A2 Milk Company and Group chief executive of the Jetstar Group. Between 2010 and 2016, Ms Hrdlicka was a non-executive director of Woolworths Group, which at the time included Endeavour Group's market leading liquor brands and he ALH Hotel Group. Mr Mervis said Ms Hrdlicka had a proven track record leading consumer-facing businesses to success. 'She has led many complex organisations and delivered significant shareholder value by capturing the true potential of a company's brands and assets,' he said. 'After an extensive global search, the board is delighted to have secured such a highly capable leader. Jayne brings many strengths to the role, including a history of using deep consumer insights to define successful strategy formulation and execution and extensive business transformation experience.'
The Age
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Age
Dan Murphy's owner needs a rescue but can its new boss deliver?
Few Australian captains of industry play 'hrdball' like Australia's highest profile female executive - the recently departed Virgin Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka. Few are as accomplished in the science of networking, the art of the business turnaround, and even fewer are more controversial. Having accepted a new challenge to revive the fortunes of Endeavour, the company that owns the big box booze barns – Dan Murphy's, BWS – and a portfolio of 350 pubs, her focus now turns from getting customers onto Virgin's planes to having them fill bars and/or their trolleys with beer, bourbon and Bordeaux. Hrdlicka was privy to a masterclass in the art of corporate ruthlessness by her former boss at Qantas, Alan Joyce. Credited as being part-architect of the airline's 2011 decision to ground the airline as part of the nuclear-level move against the company's unions, Hrdlicka has seemingly learnt her lessons well and certainly proved her chops by resuscitating Virgin Australia. Hrdlicka's announcement to move to Virgin's departure lounge certainly caught most by surprise. The airline's Lazarus-like revival from administration appeared to be a textbook restructuring, and its current earnings profile is more positive than it has been for a decade or more. Despite years of industrial relations education at the feet of Joyce, Hrdlicka also managed to establish a workable relationship with Virgin's unions. Her tenure handed a magnificent return to Virgin's owner, Bain, and assuming we escape a Trump-induced global recession, the airline's prospects look rosy in the short to medium term. Hrdlicka is considered tough, ruthless and polarising to her critics and fans alike, so there is little doubt that the under-performing Endeavour is in for radical change. Having worked in the cutthroat world of private equity, reigned over infant formula group A2, run the discount airline Jetstar, and then its mid-tier competitor Virgin while holding court as head of Tennis Australia, Hrdlicka appears as energetic as she is industry-agnostic.
