Super Retail Group fires CEO Anthony Heraghty over affair allegations
For almost two years, one of Australia’s top retailers has denied that its chief executive was having an affair with a subordinate.
On the eve of a courtroom showdown, the Super Retail Group board on Tuesday declared that it no longer believed chief executive Anthony Heraghty, who has run the company that owns BCF, Macpac, Rebel and Supercheap Auto for a decade.
Mr Heraghty was summarily fired and told his bonuses would be cancelled.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The decision is a victory for two former executives suing the Queensland-based company for allegedly allowing Mr Heraghty and ex-human resources chief Jane Kelly to misuse company funds, bully subordinates who challenged their decisions, and oversee a toxic workplace culture.
“The Board made this decision after receiving new information from Mr Heraghty regarding his relationship with the company’s former Chief Human Resources Officer,” the company said in a statement to the stock exchange. “In light of this new information, the Board has concluded Mr Heraghty’s prior disclosures were not satisfactory.”
Super Retail did not disclose any more about what the new information was. The company is due in the Federal Court next week to defend a lawsuit filed by its former chief lawyer, Rebecca Farrell, and company secretary Amelia Berczelly, who were sacked. Both sides have been sharing evidence ahead of the hearing.
Court allegations
Legal documents made public earlier alleged Mr Heraghty and Ms Kelly were in a relationship as early as 2020, and oversaw a culture of bullying, victimisation and sloppy record keeping.
Until today, the company defended Mr Heraghty. It maintained an investigation had been conducted into the allegations in December, 2023, and found no evidence to support them. Ms Kelly left the business a month earlier, according to her LinkedIn biography.
Last April the company said: “The board has conducted a review and investigations into these allegations. The board’s review and investigations concluded that none of the allegations are substantiated.”
The company’s shares fell 3 per cent to $16.72 after Tuesday’s news. This year, they are up 10 per cent, giving the company a valuation of $3.8 billion.
A spokesman for the board declined to comment. However, as part of Tuesday’s announcement the board added that Mr Heraghty will forfeit all unvested incentives and any vested but unexercised rights to certain financial benefits.
