CFO Collective: August 2026

Reporting season wrapped this week, and the honest verdict is better than feared, but still not actually great. Misses outnumbering beats by 36% versus 30%, and broker ratings ran heavily negative at 31 upgrades to 82 downgrades - a sharp reversal from February's two-to-one in favour of upgrades. Aggregate earnings growth landed around 11.6%, which sounds solid until you strip out mining and financials and it falls to roughly 2–3%, below the 3.6% inflation companies are trading against. The market agreed in a brutal way with some stocks hit hard, as always forward guidance mattered more than the year just gone.

The more interesting story sits one level under that headline number: capex intentions for next year were revised up to 15.5%, and almost all of it is data centres and renewable energy rather than the broader industrial base. CBA was the standout on quantifying the return - a first for an ASX company, at roughly $200 million gross AI benefit in FY26, expected to double next year and exceed its cost. Most companies that mentioned AI could not say the same, and more than one analyst we read was blunt that the benefit is flowing to customers and vendors rather than showing up in margins yet. If you sign off next year's technology budget, CBA's disclosure is now the reference point the board will ask about, fair comparison or not.

Away from the boards, August was the month private credit had its first real stress test. Bathla Group, Western Sydney's largest residential builder, went into administration owing roughly $3.2 billion, mostly to private credit funds rather than banks, and at least six funds have since frozen or capped redemptions, Centuria Bass and MA Financial among them. ASIC's Sarah Court called it ‘the first significant cracks’ in a sector that has grown from $35 billion to well over $200 billion in a decade, which is faster than bank lending by a wide margin. None of it slowed private equity: Steadfast, Reliance Worldwide and EQT Holdings all drew competing bids in August at premiums between 30% and 52%. Confidence at the top of the market and nervousness in the middle of it are both true at once, and worth watching into next quarter.

Endeavour Group announced on 18 August 2026 the appointment of Michael Casamento as Chief Financial Officer, commencing November 2026. Michael joins from Amcor, where he spent ten years as Executive Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer. He succeeds Kate Beattie, who becomes Chief Business Services Officer covering supply chain, procurement and the group's ERP transformation, and steps back from executive roles in late 2027. Kate has been Chief Financial Officer since June 2023, after nearly ten years across Endeavour and Woolworths.

Regis Healthcare announced on 24 August 2026 the appointment of Stuart Hooper as Chief Financial Officer, commencing 1 September 2026. Stuart joins from Bupa Asia Pacific, where he was Chief Financial Officer, and was previously Chief Financial Officer of Ventia. He succeeds Rick Rostolis, who retires on 31 August 2026 after more than six years in the role.

Bravura Solutions announced on 14 August 2026 the appointment of Nicole Ebejer as Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, while the company runs an international search for a permanent appointment. She takes over from Neil Montford, who steps down after three years.

Aspen Group announced on 18 August 2026 the appointment of Hamish Perks as Chief Financial Officer effective 1 September 2026. Hamish is promoted from Aspen's transactions team and brings two decades across equities research, investment banking and funds management.

Integral Diagnostics announced on 10 August 2026, the appointment of Jenny Martin as Chief Financial Officer from 5 October 2026. Jenny brings 25 years in healthcare technology, including Chief Financial Officer of ASX-listed The Citadel Group from 2018 until its privatisation in 2020, and Chief Operating Officer there until July 2026. She succeeds Craig White, who retires after four and a half years and formally departs on 30 April 2027.

Little Green Pharma announced on 20 August 2026 the appointment of Jennifer Pilcher as Group Chief Financial Officer, commencing 24 August 2026. Jennifer spent six years at Cann Group, most recently around two years as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director and has held Chief Financial Officer roles across ASX-listed life sciences and technology businesses. The appointment follows the company's merger with Cannatrek and succeeds Paula Butler, who resigned effective 31 July 2026.

Dubber Corporation announced on 28 August 2026 the appointment of Prasad Kasinadhuni as Chief Financial Officer. Prasad has held the role on an acting basis since November 2025, having previously been the company's Financial Controller. Congratulations to Prasad on the promotion.

Felix Group Holdings announced on 3 August 2026 the appointment of Stephen Hunter as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, commencing 17 August 2026. Stephen joins the Ainslie Group, where he held the same role, and previously led Accruent's Asia-Pacific business. He succeeds James Frayne.

Iress announced on 17 August 2026 a planned transition for Chief Financial Officer Cameron Williamson, who joined in July 2023 and remains in the role through the remainder of FY26 to oversee an orderly handover. Cameron joined Iress from Pendal, where he was Chief Financial Officer. The Board has commenced an international search.

Winton Land announced on 27 August 2026 the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Jean McMahon. The Auckland-based residential developer is dual-listed on the NZX and ASX.

Nido Education announced on 25 August 2026 the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Tom Herring, who remains in the role until 5 November 2026 to support an orderly handover. Tom was appointed Chief Financial Officer in April 2021, when the business was Think Childcare.

Michelle Japp has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Serco Asia Pacific, the ANZ division of LSE-listed Serco Group, which employs more than 10,000 people across defence, justice, health and citizen services. Michelle joins Menulog, where she was Director of Finance, having previously spent four years at Woolworths Supermarkets as General Manager Finance for Operations, with earlier roles at Stockland and PwC. She succeeds Andrew Henry, who had held the role since February 2022.

Sean Scanlon has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Meriton Group, the privately owned Sydney business that is Australia's largest apartment developer and, through Meriton Suites, its largest hotelier. Sean joined Meriton as Head of Group Finance in February 2026, arriving from six years at ASX-listed Growthpoint Properties Australia, and before those five years at Charter Hall as Group Financial Controller. Congratulations to Sean on the promotion.

Angela Kreis has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Green by Nature, the Mercury Capital-backed landscaping, horticulture and grounds maintenance group of around 2,000 people across Australia and New Zealand. Angela joins from sustainable packaging business Ecoware, where she was Chief Financial Officer, having spent twelve years at Lion in roles including Group Strategy Director and Group Finance FP&A Director, with earlier experience at Greenstone Partners and Deloitte. Angela succeeds Gino Sorrentino after 4 highly successful years.

Dan Lunoe has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Arkadia, the privately owned Sydney investment group spanning large-format retail property, hotels and hospitality, and funds management. Dan joins from Devro, where he was Director of Finance across Sydney and London, and previously spent eleven years at ASX-listed Stockland.

Emily Weston has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of StoreLocal, the fourth largest self-storage operator in Australasia and majority owned by BlackRock's real estate business since May 2025. Emily moves across from another BlackRock-owned business, the grid-scale battery developer Akaysha Energy.

Sandra Korres has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Sydney Fish Market, owned by the New South Wales seafood industry and now trading from its new Blackwattle Bay home, which opened in January 2026. Sandra leads both finance and IT and succeeds Stephen Groom after his 14 years in the role.

Mitesh Mistry has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of AARNet, the not-for-profit operator of Australia's national research and education network, owned by the country's universities and the CSIRO. Mitesh joins after almost eleven years at Optus, most recently as Head of Finance for its Enterprise and Business division.

Cara Hayward has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia, the national industry body for finance and mortgage brokers, where her remit also covers people and culture. Cara joins from Professionals Real Estate, where she was Head of Finance, and spent almost eight years at commercial property advisory LPC, the last five as Chief Financial Officer.

Troy Janissen has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of NEXA Group, the privately owned Sydney business supplying queue management, appointment scheduling and patient flow software to healthcare, government and education clients. Troy joins from the ophthalmology group Clearsight, formerly SMS Healthcare, where he was Head of Finance and Corporate Development.

Toyin Oyekan has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Arete Health Care, the privately held Sydney residential aged care provider operating homes at Bankstown and Cabramatta. Toyin has been with Arete for eleven years, joining in accounts payable and receivable in 2015 before becoming Accounts Manager and then Finance Manager. Congratulations to Toyin on the promotion.