Board of Directors

ARI MERVIS B.Comm

Chairman of the Board

Expertise and experience: Ari was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of McPherson's Limited on 16 February 2021.  He was appointed Chairman of the Board with effect from 21 July 2021.  Ari is a professional company director with global experience spanning a range of industries in branded goods, consumer staples, agriculture, food and beverages.

Ari has vast experience having lived and operated businesses in complex geographies and having led and been involved in both listed and unlisted companies, as well as joint venture structures and not for profit organisations. His experience is further enhanced through having actively participated in significant mergers and acquisitions, and divestments, including post-acquisition integration and synergy delivery.

Ari was most recently Executive Chairman for Accolade Wines and prior to that was CEO and Managing Director for Murray Goulburn. Before that he had a successful career at SABMiller, culminating as CEO for CUB and MD for the Asia Pacific region. He was also Chairman of China Resources Snow Beer, SABMiller India and SABMiller Vietnam.

Ari holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, with majors in Economics, Commercial Law and Marketing.

Special Responsibilities: 
Chair of the Board from 21 July 2021, Deputy Chair of the Board from 27 April 2021 (until 21 July 2021), Member of the Audit Committee and the People and Culture Committee from 22 February 2022

Other current Directorships in ASX listed companies: Myer Holdings Limited

Former Directorships in ASX listed companies in last three years: None

Interests in shares and performance rights:
150,000 ordinary shares in McPherson’s Limited
No performance rights held

 

BRETT CHARLTON, B.Comm

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director 

Expertise and experience: Brett was appointed CEO and Managing Director of McPherson's Limited on 1 August 2023. He is a growth-focused CEO and commercial leader who has developed an international career in the consumer goods industry across the Asia Pacific region. Brett has worked with a gold standard set of companies, including Diageo, PepsiCo, Fonterra, Sanofi, and Private Equity, for over 25 years before channelling his experience into advisory and consulting services.

Brett is a strategic thinker who connects the dots between divisions for organisations, with a speciality in governance and operations of organisations large and small. He is a respected confidant to leaders in the ASX c-suite and a trusted advisor to Boards, CEOs, and functional General Managers. Brett is a Graduate and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Graduate School of Management from IMD in Lusanne, Switzerland, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Human Resources) from Griffith University.

Special Responsibilities: Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director

Other current Directorships in ASX listed companies: N/A

Former Directorships in ASX listed companies in last three years: N/A

Interests in shares and performance rights: N/A

 

JANE M. McKELLAR,  MA - (Hons)

Independent Non-Executive Director

Expertise and experience: Jane McKellar was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of McPherson's Limited on 23 February 2015. Jane is an experienced international senior executive with extensive customer-focused, brand, marketing and digital experience across a number of high-profile, global brands.

Jane commenced her career at Unilever in London and her subsequent roles have included global CEO of Stila Corporation, Managing Director of Elizabeth Arden Australia, Founding CEO of Excite.com Asia Pacific, Director of Sales and Marketing for Microsoft (MSN), and Founding Director of Ninemsn.

Jane holds a Master of Arts (Hons) from the University of Aberdeen and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special responsibilities:
Chair of the People and Culture Committee, Member of the Audit, Risk Management and  Compliance Committee (until 22 February 2022), Member of the Risk and Compliance Committee from 22 February 2022

Other current Directorships in ASX listed companies: Director of GWA Group Limited and Director of Noumi Limited

Former Directorships in ASX listed companies in last three years: None

Interests in shares and performance rights:
11,553 ordinary shares in McPherson’s Limited
No performance rights held

 

ALISON J. COOK, MSc (Hons)

Independent Non-Executive Director

Expertise and experience: Alison Cook (formerly Mew*) was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of McPherson’s Limited on 24 July 2018.

*Alison changed her name from Alison Mew to Alison Cook with effect from 10 February 2021.

Alison has more than 30 years of leadership and executive management experience in Australasia across a diverse range of functions within the biopharmaceutical and health services sectors. Her experience includes product manufacturing, quality systems, logistics, sales and marketing, as well as research and development. Alison is also familiar with the regulatory environment that governs the healthcare market. In addition to these technical and operational activities, Alison has been involved in corporate acquisitions and divestments as well as the strategic planning process.

Alison has recently held the positions of Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of Genetic Technologies Limited, an ASX and NASDAQ listed leading edge genetic testing services business.

Alison holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science (Microbiology), has undertaken the Executive Development Programme at Melbourne Business School and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special responsibilities: Chair of the Audit, Risk Management and Compliance Committee from 19 January 2021 (resigned as Chair on 22 February 2022), Chair of the Risk and Compliance Committee from 22 February 2022, Member of both the People and Culture Committee and Audit Committee from 22 February 2022.

Other current Directorships in ASX listed companies: None.

Former Directorships in ASX listed companies in last three years: None.

Interests in shares and performance rights:
15,500 ordinary shares in McPherson's Limited
No performance rights held

 

HELEN L. THORNTON, B.Ec

Independent Non-Executive Director

Expertise and experience: Helen is a non-executive director with extensive financial, risk management, audit and governance expertise, aligned with strong strategic capabilities, and leadership and relationship management skills, which complement the existing experience base of the Board.

Helen is a Chartered Accountant with a diverse background in financial services, manufacturing, utilities, mining and property in both public and private corporations, and also with government statutory authorities. She is an experienced member and chair of audit, compliance and risk committees

Helen’s executive roles have included Vice President - Risk Management of BlueScope Steel Ltd and senior roles at BHP, Deloitte and KPMG.

Current non-executive directorships include:

ISPT Pty Ltd, Treasury Corporation of Victoria, Ansvar Insurance and Yarra Valley Water.     

Helen is also currently a member and chair of a number of board committees, including audit and risk committees, and nomination and remuneration committees.

Helen holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Special Responsibilities: Chair of the Audit Committee from 22 February 2022 and Member of the Risk and Compliance Committee from 22 February 2022

Other current Directorships in ASX listed companies: None

Former Directorships in ASX listed companies in last three years: None

Interests in shares and performance rights:
20,000 ordinary shares in McPherson’s Limited
No performance rights held