WOW...now that is change in calibre, holy smokes, we talk about step changes by the companies battery tech....well we have just been pleasantly surprised with a step change in governance.
Quick look at Mr Crouch's previous experience and bio he appears to be who you want in your corner if you are ever defending a hostile takeover, or making an M&A happen favorably or building a high growth company.
This is a next level executive for building and running a multi-billion dollar company.
Here is a brief run down of what I have dug up quickly on his previous roles (there are likely more but a bit excited)-
Westpac - Director and was apparently earmarked as future chairman
ASIC- Director Advisory Panel
Chairman of Corporate Travel Management (one of the only travel mobs to prosper during covid)
Allens Chairman
Director of BlueScope Steel
More here at Westpac website
Ewen Crouch | Westpac Wire | WestpacAlso from Allens website see here
Our people: Ewen Crouch AM - Allens the previous transactions he was involved in some of these are the largest of their kind...
Key transactions on which Ewen has advised in recent years include
:Foster's Group – response to SABMiller's takeover proposal.
Leighton Holdings – $750 million capital raising and in response to ACS bid for its major shareholder Hochtief AG.
St.George Bank – merger with Westpac Banking Corporation.
MBF – demutualisation and merger into BUPA.
Westpac – One ADI Project.
Macquarie Airports – internalisation of management and acquisition from Macquarie Capital.
Rio Tinto – response to BHP's US$192 billion takeover bid, the second-largest takeover bid of all time and the first ever takeover involving two Australian-UK dual-listed companies.
Wesfarmers – $20 billion acquisition of Coles Group, the largest takeover in Australian corporate history.
Capital raisings in 2008/09 by Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, GPT and OneSteel.
CEMEX – $2 billion sale of its Australian operations to Holcim, after having advised CEMEX on its US$14.25 billion bid for Rinker Group, which is the largest cash offer in Australian corporate history.
QANTAS – responding to the bid made by a private equity consortium.
OneSteel – acquisition of Smorgon Steel.
What would an executive with this amount of successful corporate history be doing joining a small little $200m MC bio/energy company in Brisbane.
He likely doesn't need the cash (although he has my vote for the options in the contract), highly likely he doesn't need the ego boost, is it likely he wants the challenge of building another billion dollar company once again?
Having a quick read on his previous history I don't think there would be many people more qualified in Australia, if not the planet to defend an IP position, defend a takeover or make a favorable one happen or to conduct some serious M&A activity.
Welcome to team Anteo Mr Crouch hope you enjoy your time bringing this little company into a real Australian success story.
With this kind of calibre executive being brought on board to join the other recent hires over the last little period, I wonder who they have in mind for CEO role...exciting times!!
There is a serious team building here, leaving the park footy and bypassing first grade straight to the national team, pumped!!!
MASSIVE BUY HERE, this level of executive does not join a business to watch it fail they join to make them prosper.
GLTA.