Veda appoints independent directors Mr Bruce Beeren, Ms Diana Eilert and Dr Peter Shergold AC
Sydney, Australia, Friday 18 October 2013: Veda today announced the appointment of Ms Diana Eilert, Mr Bruce Beeren and Dr Peter Shergold AC to their Board of Directors, along with the resignation of Mr Tony Duthie.
The new directors will join recent appointee as Chairman, Dr Helen Nugent AO, and previous directors, Mr Geoff Hutchinson and Mr Anthony Kerwick, along with the CEO and Managing Director, Ms Nerida Caesar.
Dr Nugent, Mr Bereen, Ms Eilert and Dr Shergold are independent non-executive directors, resulting in Veda now having a board with a majority of independent directors.
Dr Nugent said she was “delighted with the appointments of such high quality directors who bring skills that are relevant and important to Veda as it positions itself to take advantage of structural changes in the data analytics and credit reporting sector.
“As a highly experienced former CFO and non-executive director, including with organisations such as Origin Energy, Bruce brings a wealth of experience to his incoming role as Chairman of the Audit Committee. We will also benefit from his having been on the Board of Veda prior to its privatisation in 2007.
“Peter brings financial services experience as an AMP director and from a distinguished background in government and public service, including as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. This is invaluable as Veda manages regulatory changes and its growing relationship with government agencies.
“Diana adds further financial services credentials, with her executive background at Citibank and Suncorp. She also has a deep understanding of data intelligence and online consumer business expertise, having served on the Board of realestate.com.au and onthehouse.com.au.
“I am proud to welcome all of our talented directors and I look forward to serving alongside them during this important period of growth and opportunity for the company. In addition, I wish to acknowledge and pay tribute to Tony Duthie for his considerable contribution to Veda over a significant length of time.”
For more information please contact:
Victor Leung 02 9278 7617; victor.leung@veda.com.au
Lauren Thompson 0438 954 729
Biographical Information
Bruce Beeren
Bruce is currently a non-executive director of Origin Energy (where he previously held the position of Finance Director), and a director of Contact Energy, Equipsuper Pty Ltd and The Hunger Project Australia.
Bruce was formerly a non-executive director of Veda Advantage Limited, ConnectEast Group, Coal & Allied Industries and Envestra Limited.
He has also held senior executive roles in major listed companies. Bruce was previously the chief financial officer of AGL, General Manager of AGL Pipelines and chief executive officer of VENCorp.
Dr Peter Shergold AC
Peter is currently a director of AMP, AMP Life and Corrs Chambers Westgarth. He is also Chairman of Quintessence Labs.
Peter has had a distinguished career in the public service, including having served as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training, and Secretary of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.
He is currently on the board of the Sir John Monash Foundation and is Deputy Chairman of the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
In 2011 Peter was appointed the Chancellor of University of Western Sydney. He was also appointed as Chairman of New South Wales' Public Service Commission by Premier Barry O'Farrell.
Peter was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2007 for his services to the community in 2007. This is the highest honour that Australia can award.
Diana Eilert
Diana is currently a non-executive director of AMP Life, Queensland Urban Utilities (Queensland’s largest water distributor/retailer), and digital real estate business "onthehouse". Previously, she was a nonexecutive director of REA Group (realestate.com.au).
Diana has significant executive operational and marketing experience in the financial services sector. She was Group Executive for Suncorp’s insurance business, and later Group Executive for People, Technology and Marketing. Earlier, she held various senior roles in her ten years at Citibank. Most recently, Diana developed a deep understanding of digital trends, impacts and business whilst an executive with News Ltd.