Foxtel Group Chair Siobhan McKenna has been appointed as the new Chair of Australia Post.
Mckenna was appointed to the role by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher on Thursday. She will step in as Chair following the departure of Lucio Di Bartolomeo, whose term has come to an end.
McKenna has vast experience in the corporate world, having been group director of News Corp’s broadcasting arm since 2016. She is the chairman of Fox Sports, Foxtel, Sky News and Nova Entertainment. She is a director of AMCIL Limited and has been a partner at McKinsey & Company. She is also a former director of Woolworths.
“Ms McKenna’s knowledge, leadership and experience will help support Australia Post as it modernises and adapts to meet shifting consumer demand. The government looks forward to working with her in her new role,” Rowland and Gallagher said in a statement.
“The appointment of Ms McKenna and her extensive experience in corporate governance will help support this treasured national institution in achieving these important outcomes.”.
McKenna comes to role at Australia Post after a turbulent period for the national postal service, which involved the controversial departure of its former CEO, Christine Holgate.
Holgate received a $1 million payout from her former employer for her treatment during the fallout of the Cartier watches scandal (where she had signed off on a number of Cartier watches for executives totaling around $20,000 after they had closed a signifiant deal).
The payout came after former Prime Minister Scott Morrison publicly humiliated Holgate on the floor of parliament, demanding “she should go” over the Cartier watches.
Australia Post admitted it lost an “effective CEO” in Holgate. She is now the Group CEO of Global Express.
On Thursday, Rowland and Gallagher acknowledged the service of Lucio Di Bartolomeo, Australia Post’s outgoing Chair.