Metcash executives claim they were ‘sacked on the spot’ as culture clash turns ugly
Two Metcash finance executives claim the group’s South African chief financial officer bullied them amid a culture clash and row over bonuses within its Sydney offices, according to legal filings with the Fair Work Commission.
Metcash is a wholesale supplier to around 100,000 retail stores across Australia including the IGA Supermarkets and Foodland, alongside bottle shop merchants Cellarbrations and the Bottle-O. It also owns the Home Hardware and Mitre10 building supplies stores.
The group’s former general manager of Finance Transformation, Greg Buxton, and its former Group Treasurer, Delia Sparkes, have brought two separate claims against its current CFO Deepa Sita, who joined Metcash in 2024.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Since Ms Sita’s commencement at Metcash, Ms Sparkes and Mr Buxton and other colleagues encountered cultural clashes with Ms Sita in that her approach to dealing with employees consisted of patterns of bullying, aggression and lack of communication,” a spokesperson for the claimants said.
“Ms Sita, from South Africa, had admitted difficulties adjusting to the different work practices in Australia, and asked for guidance.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Sita is South African-educated and worked in various corporate roles in the country, before leaving Johannesberg-based food distributor Tiger Brands to join Metcash as its CFO in January 2024.
A spokesperson for Metcash said it rejected the “without merit” claims and would defend them at the Fair Work Commission.
“Both individuals were legitimately terminated in connection with conduct that fell far short of Metcash’s Code of Conduct and Values and their positions as senior finance executives,” the spokesperson said.
“Metcash confirms that it has met all its workplace obligations and that its officers have conducted themselves professionally and with integrity throughout.”
“Sacked on the spot”
Sydney-based, Mr Buxton spent 10 years in various senior roles at Metcash and allegedly had a work allowance cancelled before his departure from the group in July 2025. Ms Sparkes worked in finance at Dexus and Challenger before working for Metcash at its Macquarie Park head office in North Sydney.
A statement by the departed employees’ legal advisers Harmers Lawyers claims both were “sacked on the spot”.
Ms Sparkes was allegedly sacked after sending an email to Ms Sita outlining concerns about staff treatment and bonuses. Mr Buxton allegedly had a workplace allowance cancelled before being sacked amid workplace conflict.
For the six months ending June 30, Metcash reported an adjusted net profit down 2.4 per cent to $275.5 million on sales up 7.2 per cent to $19.5 billion.
The group’s shares have advanced 22.4 per cent year to date to $3.83, although are flat over the past five years as the group faces still competition from powerful supermarkets Coles and Woolworths.
