Norris: In my defence
From p8
good job in executing the plans of improving performance of those underperforming businesses in Australia and Formica.
‘‘[But] I think there’s no doubt, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, it’s easy to say that Mark didn’t have the grip on construction, particularly on B&I.’’
When the problems surfaced, the board acted, Norris said.
‘‘This is a company with over 40 discrete businesses, and you have one of those businesses, a division of one of those businesses, which has woefully, woefully underperformed, and there’s been issues around management, obviously at chief executive level of the group. We addressed that in June last year.’’
It was not only the legal advice Norris believes was lacking.
‘‘You have also got to remember that the auditors didn’t bring any of this to the notice of the board either.’’
EY was the external auditor for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 annual reports. It took over from KPMG who did the 2014 and 2013 annual report.
But EY said it did not comment on clients’ business.
‘‘In my own defence, I have had to deal with a hell of a lot of things that weren’t of my own making,’’ Norris said.
‘‘You would be amazed at the number of telephone calls, emails and texts I’ve had from people. I have not had one negative piece of communication since the announcement.’’
He does not think about his ‘‘legacy’’ as a businessman.
‘‘As far as I am concerned, my family, my friends, the people I have worked with closely, they know who I am, they know what I am. That’s all that counts for me.
‘‘I don’t think in terms of legacy. Those sorts of things all come down to a once over lightly in many respects.
‘‘I’m not going to let my life be defined by somebody else’s views. I know what I have done, I know the mistakes I have made. I know the good decisions I have made, and none of us are perfect.
‘‘We all have blind spots at times, but I would like to say that I have always acted with the utmost integrity, and I’ve taken responsibility for any actions I have been involved with.’’