Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Australia’s leading independent law firm, has appointed former CEO of PwC Australia Mark G. Johnson to its Board as an independent director.
Mark replaces outgoing independent director Dr Rufus Black who retired from his role on the Board to take up the full-time position of Vice-Chancellor of the University Of Tasmania.
Mark was the CEO of PwC Australia between 2008 and 2012, the final four years of his 30 years with the firm. During his time as CEO he lead more than 6,000 people in Australia, Indonesia and PNG while at the same time sitting on the firm’s Global Strategy Council and serving as PwC’s Deputy Chairman for Asia.
Prior to assuming the role of CEO at PwC Australia, Mark held a number of leadership positions within the firm and served a number of its major clients in audit, accounting, due diligence, fundraising and risk and governance services.
He is currently a director of Coca-Cola Amatil, Westfield Corporation, HCF, G8 Education and The Smith Family. He is also a member of the advisory board of the University of NSW School of Business and a director of a number of private businesses. Mark is a former director of HSBC Bank Australia, member of the Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and Deputy Chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Financial Reporting Committee.
According to Corrs Partner and Chairman Stephen Price, Mark’s appointment is a significant one for the firm.
“Mark has a wealth of experience and deep knowledge in the management of a large professional services organisation. This, combined with his business acumen and commercial insights and perspective, will be of enormous benefit to the Board and the firm as a whole,” he said.
Stephen also paid tribute to outgoing Board member Dr Rufus Black.
“Rufus’ deep knowledge of cultural change programs and his ethical and public policy expertise, as well as his external point of view, were greatly appreciated by the Board,” Stephen said.