Kerry Stokes to leave Seven Group in changing of the guard

Kerry Stokes will step down as the chairman of his majority owned Seven Group Holdings in a major shakeup for the company that reported a 440 per cent jump in net profits for the year to June 30.

Mr Stokes announced he would retire from the company’s board at the diversified holdings group’s annual general meeting in November, a move that will mark a shifting of the guard at the company and in corporate Australia.

Kerry Stokes will remain chairman of Seven West Media.Credit:Philip Gostelow

Mr Stokes will remain chairman of Seven West Media. Current Seven Group director and former Coca-Cola Amatil boss Terry Davis will take over as chairman from Mr Stokes.

Mr Stokes said he was confident of Seven Group Holdings future.

“SGH shareholders has an exceptional Board of experienced directors, a talented, highly capable and hardworking management team and a strategic portfolio of businesses.”

“I am very proud of SGH and its track record”.

“In reflecting on what SGH has achieved in terms of building stronger businesses and delivering shareholder returns, I am confident that I leave Seven Group Holdings in the best possible hands under the stewardship of Terry and the Board and the leadership of Ryan (Stokes).”

“Of course, I remain very committed to Seven Group Holdings and I will remain involved in the business in an advisory capacity. As a shareholder, I look forward to the company’s continued growth and prosperity.”

Seven Group, which owns the Westrac and Coates equipment leasing businesses as well as a large stake in Boral and Seven West Media, posted a full-year net profit of $634 million. The group is currently in the midst of a limited takeover of Boral which is expected to lift its stake in the building materials group to 35 per cent. The group said it would pay a final fully franked dividend of 23 cents per share, an increase of 10 per cent on 2020. The final dividend is payable on September 19.

Sarah Danckert is a business reporter who specialises in investigations and corporate wrongdoing. She is a two-time Walkley Award winner, and has won five Quill Awards and two Kennedy Awards.

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