Australia’s leading drinks retailer, Endeavour Group, has confirmed the appointment of Tim Poole as its new independent chairman.
The move comes after Ari Mervis stepped down in August, citing a disagreement with Endeavour’s board. Poole was announced as his replacement in February, but the stalled appointment has seen Duncan Makeig serve as interim chairman until the move was made official in mid-May.
Known for becoming the ASX-100’s youngest-ever chairman through his role at logistics company Asciano, Poole raised eyebrows after leaving executive life in his late 30s to pursue a career on company boards.
This led to him holding a decade-long tenure atop Aurizon Holdings, a company that he is credited with successfully turning around. Now, Poole serves as a non-executive director of The Lottery Corporation.
“I am delighted to be joining the Endeavour Board as chairman to support management during this period of strategic transformation,” Tim Poole said. “I thank Duncan Makeig for his leadership as interim chairman and continued service on the board.”
Overseeing the Dan Murphy’s and BWS brands, alongside ALH Hotels, Poole joins after a record-sales period for the company over Christmas.
