High-profile business figure Chris Corrigan slams the push to vastly increase the number of women on company boards - and said the besieged AMP chairwoman never would have got that job if she was a man

  • Chris Corrigan criticised the push to increase the number of women on boards
  • Mr Corigran revealed the move was a major factor in leaving Qube Holdings 
  • He said the AMP chairwoman never would have got that job if she was a man
  • Her promotion was clearly the case of the 'mood of the moment,' he explained

High-profile business figure Chris Corrigan has criticised the push to vastly increase the number of women on company boards.   

In slamming the campaigning for more women to be promoted within corporate Australia, Mr Corigran revealed the move was a major consideration when leaving the board of port and logistics group Qube Holdings last year.

He said besieged AMP chairwoman Catherine Brenner never would have got that job if she was a man, believing it was 'demonstrably the case' that she was advanced because of the 'mood of the moment' to pursue gender fairness, The Australian reported.  

Chris Corrigan (pictured) criticised the push to increase the number of women on boards

Chris Corrigan (pictured) criticised the push to increase the number of women on boards

'Can you imagine that a man with moderate investment banking experience at a second-rate ­investment bank would have got to be chair of the AMP?' he said. 

Sharing that although he isn't opposed to equality, Mr Corrigan said he does mind when the ability to do the job is impacted.  

In July 2015 Mr Corrigan wrote in a letter for the board: 'I am uncomfortable about being bullied to add females to the Qube board irrespective of requirement, suitability and potential contribution but solely on the basis of their sex.'

He outlined new measures which could be taken to ensure a fairer process which included one where shareholders could nominate candidates and they could be voted in at yearly meetings.

'It provides an invitation to the social engineers to put up or shut up and it emphasises the role of shareholders in the choices for which they should take responsibility,' he wrote. 

ACSI chief executive Louise Davidson said Mr Corrigan's claims were inaccurate, telling Newscorp that members have the right to oversee improvements in corporate governance.   

He said besieged AMP chairwoman Catherine Brenner never would have got that job if she was a man 

He said besieged AMP chairwoman Catherine Brenner never would have got that job if she was a man 

 

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