Ann: Big Un Limited Board Changes, page-144

Considering he has no ASX/publicly listed company directorship experience, which is what BIG desperately need you'd think, the only two plausible explanations that come to mind for his appointment are a) personal connection, ie doing a favour to quickly fill the Massie gap, or as others have suggested, b) access to European capital.

Interesting to note that the previous board (Massie, BE and ST) didn't meet ASX guidelines of independence. The current board doesn't either, and requires two more independent appointees. If BIG are working with ASX to clean up image then you'd hope this is going to happen.