Posties find a boss at Woolies

AUSTRALIA Post has sought to get ahead of the politics engulfing the ousting of its former chief executive Christine Holgate — appointing her replacement a day before a Senate inquiry into her departure is set to begin.

The postal service has appointed Woolworths’ supply chain boss Paul Graham (pictured) as chief executive after a global search, estimated to have cost $500,000.

Mr Graham’s appointment, and its approval from the Morrison government, has attracted criticism from the senate inquiry’s chair, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who accused Australia Post of seeking to “undermine” the role of the senate.

“The search for a new CEO of Australia Post has taken more than five months, so one can only question why the appointment has been made the day prior to a senate inquiry hearing into the circumstances surrounding the employment of the last CEO,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“While the matter of the termination of Ms Holgate’s employment is before a senate inquiry, the appointment of a new CEO is inappropriate and seeks to undermine the senate inquiry process.”

The inquiry will probe Ms Holgate’s claims that Lucio Di Bartolomeo bullied and humiliated her, and stood her down unlawfully after attracting criticism from Scott Morrison for awarding Cartier watches — worth a total of almost $20,000 — to four senior executives who secured a banking deal worth $66m a year.

Mr Bartolomeo has rejected the se claims.

The ministers who oversee Australia Post, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, said the government “welcomes” Mr Graham’s appointment.

“We trust Mr Graham will provide strong direction and leadership as Australia Post continues to deliver record numbers of parcels, even with border closures and ongoing logistical challenges,” the two ministers said in a joint statement.

“We would also like to thank Ms Christine Holgate once again for her service to Australia Post.”

Mr Graham will be paid fixed total remuneration of $1.46m, with the potential to double that amount in bonuses, in accordance with the parameters set by the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal. This compares with Ms Holgate’s total remuneration last year of $1.61m, which included $38,273 in long-service leave and $138,565 in “other long-term benefits”.

Executive recruitment firm Egon Zehnder completed the search on Australia Post’s behalf — a process estimated to have cost about $500,000.

“On behalf of the board I am so pleased to announce Paul as the next CEO,” Mr Di Bartolomeo said.