Australia's oldest public company directors
By Stephen Mayne
February 3, 2008
We're really building up the lists section and here is another two examining Australia's oldest public company directors - current and former.
Our oldest directors of major public companies
Ted Harris: still staggering along as chairman of APN and Thakral despite turning 80 last year. Born on May 4, 1927. The Thakral bio doesn't disclose his status as Australia's oldest public company chair.
Frank Lowy: the Westfield executive chairman was born on October 22, 1930.
Rupert Murdoch: the News Corp executive chairman was born on March 11, 1931.
Brian Healey: the Centro chairman and Incitec Pivot director is 73.
John Dahlsen: the Southern Cross Broadcasting founder and chairman was 72 when he fronted his final meeting to approve the Fairfax-Macquarie takeover last year. Born on February 3, 1935.
Jill Ker-Conway: bailed from Lend Lease four years ago Merrill Lynch last year but remains a director of Nike and Colgate-Palmolive despite being born on October 9, 1934.
Warwick Kent: the former Bankwest CEO is the oldest CBA director being born on January 8, 1936.
Don Argus: the BHP-Billiton and Brambles chairman will crack 70 this year as he was born on August 1, 1938.
Charles Goode: we made this video about old Charlie's passing years, but he's still soldiering on as ANZ chairman despite being born on August 26, 1938.
Ron Walker: The Fairfax Media chairman gave a recent interview to The AFR making his pitch to be a long-term chairman when he was born on September 20, 1939, and therefore will be 69 at this year's AGM.
The oldest former directors of major Australian companies
Sir Laurence Muir: one of Kerry Packer's NEDs on PBL who only bowed after his death on March 8, 2006, 5 days after his 81st birthday.
Tim Besley: was 72 when he finally quit the CBA but chaired Leighton until 74.
Stan Howard: was still messing up garden products group Arthur Yates after turning 70 and was 72 when he finally quit the Hills Motorway board.
Harold Clough: the founder of Clough Engineering and eccentric right winger was still sitting on the board into his late 70s.
Ian Burgess: booted out of AMP when 69 but was still chairing WMC when he was 71.
Sir Rod Carnegie: Was into his 70s when he finally quit the Fairfax board.
Ian Harper: The Westpac director since 1987 turns 70 on January 4 and really should give it a rest at the next AGM in December as it's his last gig.
Sir Leo Heischler: Joh's former treasury chief was on the board David's well into his 70s.
Warren Hogan: one of the three oldies on Westpac's board, Hoges is now 72 and really should retire at this upcoming AGM next month.
Malcolm Irving: was 72 when he bowed out from Telstra but stayed even longer as chairman of Caltex.
Bryan Kelman: the former CSR CEO was still deputy chairman of Macquarie Bank at 76.
Eric Mayer: Finally bowed ou t of Axa in February and turned 71 in April.
Ian McMullin: founded Spotless in 1946 and stepped down as MD to become a NED in 1972, but didn't retire as a director until he was into his 80s.
Peter Nixon: the former National Party Minister finally quit as Southern Cross Broadcasting chairman aged 73.
Prof David Pennington: Quit the wallowing PacDun but stilled chaired Cochlear into his 70s.
Peter Rowsthorn: The Toll Holdings major shareholder and retiring 71 year old chairman is definitely the richest 70-plus company director with a stake worth $250 million.
Chris Stewart: former Bank of Melbourne CEO was still on Westpac and Permanent Trustee into his 70s.
Feedback and corrections to stephen@maynereport.com
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