Split at Endeavour pits Mathiesons against the board
A fracture has emerged at the top of Endeavour Group after one director, Bruce Mathieson Jnr, backed Bill Wavish’s election to the board – a move opposed by the rest of the hotels and liquor retailing group’s board.
Endeavour operates 354 licensed hotels and 12,540 poker machines. It also runs the BWS and Dan Murphy’s chains. Billionaire pub baron Bruce Mathieson, who is Bruce Mathieson Jnr’s father, is the biggest shareholder controlling 15 per cent of the group. He is also supporting Mr Wavish, a former Myer chairman and Woolworths executive.
Bruce Mathieson is backing Bill Wavish to joint he board at Endeavour Group. Arsineh Houspian
In the notice of meeting released on Wednesday, Endeavour chairman Peter Hearl told shareholders vote against Mr Wavish’s nomination, but to elect Bruce Mathieson Jnr and Rod van Onselen as directors.
“There has not been sufficient time since receiving Mr Wavish’s nomination… for the board to complete the customary processes it undertakes in selecting and appointing directors, including the associated probity assessments, in relation to Mr Wavish,” the notice reads.
“Mr Wavish was invited to participate in the formal director search process underway and to be considered with other prospective candidates. At the time, he declined to participate in this process. The offer remains open to Mr Wavish to join the process.”
Mr Walsh worked for Woolworths from 1999 to 2004 as finance director and supermarkets director. Throughout that time, he was closely involved in all Woolworths liquor and hotels businesses. He touted his experience leading the re-organisation of part of Woolworths liquor businesses into BWS, and the acquisition of large numbers of liquor licenses and premises; helped to
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