Leighton Holdings on Sunday appointed Robert Humphris to the role of chairman, following the surprise resignation of Stephen Johns after a difference of opinion with major shareholder Hochtief.
Humphris is the former managing director of Peabody Resources, and has been on Leighton’s board since 2004.
Also promoted was Paula Dwyer, who became vice-chairman. She joined the board a year ago.
Hochtief, which is in turn owned by Spanish construction giant ACS, said it would maintain a “material role” in the appointment of directors. Johns, along with two other independent board directors, resigned after opposing Hochtief’s attempts to appoint another board representative, according to emails leaked on Friday to The Australian Financial Review.
Myriam Robin is a reporter for SmartCompany and its sister site LeadingCompany. She has degrees in economics, international studies and journalism. She likes writing about businesses taking risks and doing new things.
