Former Waratah Group shareholders Brett Chalmers and Stephen Kernahan have resigned from Finsbury Green a week after revelations emerged about an alleged $3000 a month kickback payment scheme involving World Vision Australia.
Finsbury Green executive chairman Peter Orel suspended the pair last week while an internal investigation was carried out into their involvement in the scandal which allegedly involved Glenn Kuramoto, whose son is employed by World Vision Australia to handle marketing and content management, receiving $3000 a month to keep the charity’s $2.5m a year printing contract with Waratah Group and its predecessor Docklands Press.
Further to that announcement, Orel has now announced both Kernahan, a former AFL player, and Chalmers, a former COO at Waratah Group, have resigned from their positions at Finsbury Green and have now left the business.
“The purpose of this communication is to share with you that Stephen Kernahan and Brett Chalmers have resigned from Finsbury Green. Both resignations have been accepted and today is their last day,” a communication from Peter Orel to Finsbury Green staff read.
“Stephen and Brett felt that Finsbury Green needs the freedom to operate without any potential concern or negativity related by association.
“We are very grateful to Stephen and Brett for their contribution to our business during their tenure.”
Both Chalmers and Kernahan joined Finsbury Green four months ago after Waratah Group went into administration owing multiple millions of dollars including large amounts of unpaid compulsory superannuation for staff.
Consultants KPMG are now reviewing the allegations of misconduct and Victoria Police have also been notified.
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This may well be the right thing for all concerned in this alleged Kickback Payment Scheme. The serious nature of these allegations will bring further investigations no doubt. Finsbury Green is a good company with good business values and like all of us hard working businesses must be selective about the company’s staff. Finsbury employs people with a high degree of integrity to represent the goodwill and brandname of their business.