With Melbourne often cited as a blueprint for cultural reform for Perth, it is with some irony that former Western Australian-based executive Sally Capp has been appointed to head the organisation credited with much of the Victorian capital's revival.
With Melbourne often cited as a blueprint for cultural reform for Perth, it is with some irony that former Western Australian-based executive Sally Capp has been appointed to head the organisation credited with much of the Victorian capital's revival.
Ms Capp was at one stage the only CEO of a listed WA company, the investment firm Australian Heritage Group, a role she had when she won a WA Business News 40under40 Award. She quit AHG and Perth in 2004 after being subjected to somewhat personal attacks during a boardroom seige at one of her company's investments.
Originally from Victoria, she had arrived in Perth as a corporate lawyer for Freehills and left to take on an executive role with ANZ in Melbourne. She was most recently managing director of ProVending Group and remains on the board of Collingwood Football Club and a trustee of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Below is the full announcement:
The Committee for Melbourne has appointed Ms. Sally Capp as its Chief Executive Officer, commencing August 2007.
In taking the role, Ms. Capp said, "I am thrilled to be joining the Committee. I am excited by the challenge of working with the Committee's broad and influential Membership to improve our business sector, and ensure the city's global relevance and liveability. I look forward to applying my strengths to champion issues and make a positive contribution to Melbourne."
Mr. George Pappas, Committee Chairman, said Ms Capp's appointment is a real win for the Committee.
"Sally is the best candidate from an exceptional field of people who expressed interest in the job. It was a very tough decision given the quality of applicants, which reflects the standing of the Committee and the high profile of this CEO position.
"I'm really looking forward to working with Sally in moving the Committee's agenda forward. With Sally at the helm, the Committee has an opportunity to move up another step, just as Janine Kirk helped us to do 12 years ago, because, like her predecessor when she took on the job, Sally is a person who is on the rise," Mr. Pappas said.
Ms. Capp has had a diverse and rewarding career, enjoying leadership roles within large and small business environments in blue chip organisations in the private sector. After holding positions with Herbert Geer & Rundle in Melbourne, and Freehills in Perth, she set up an investment bank, the Australian Heritage Group, which was listed on the ASX.
In 2004, Ms. Capp moved back to Melbourne to take up the role of Head of Office of the Chief Executive at the ANZ Bank, later becoming a Regional Executive in Corporate Banking. In 2006, she set up and became Managing Director of the ProVending Group.
Ms. Capp is passionate about many aspects of life. She is the mother of two boys, a non-Executive Director of the Collingwood Football Club, and a Trustee of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Ms. Capp has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Her leadership and business skills have been recognised through several award programs including the Telstra Business Women's Awards.
