CFO Collective: October 2026

Welcome to the October 2026 edition of the

[axr] CFO Collective

Inflation went the wrong way again. September CPI, out on 28 October, had headlined at 4.3% for the year, up from 4.0% in August, with housing adding 5.2% and transport 8.7%. Petrol on its own was up 9.4% in the month. Trimmed mean held at 3.6%, and most of the gap between the two is fuel, which is cold comfort when you're filling up weekly and you're modelling the FY27 salary review right now. The Board meets today on Melbourne Cup Day, with most experts predicting another rate increase.

None of it makes for a cheerful backdrop. Home values fell another 1.2% in October, a seventh straight monthly fall and the fastest run in forty years, with the capitals now 8.1% off their March peak. Consumer sentiment dropped to 80.4, one of the weakest readings since the early nineties. When property turns in this country it takes confidence with it and business feels it soon enough.

Despite all of that, on our own numbers October was the busiest month we've logged this year, 62 appointments and departures across 53 companies, against 30 in September and 33 in August. Boards are still hiring, and the market has been running hot recently with Q4 of calendar year 2026 shaping up to be a strong one in the lead-up to Christmas. Here's to a great finish to the year!

On that note, here are the moves that caught our eye in October. As always, if we've missed one, give us a shout.



ASX CFO MOVES IN

Develop Global announced on 30 October 2026 that David Lonsdale has stepped up to Interim CFO, effective 29 October. David spent ten years at Byrnecut, across its international and Australian mining services divisions. He takes over from Felicity Hughes, who steps down on completion of her interim contract.

Paragon Care announced on 16 October 2026 the appointment of David Collins as CFO, effective immediately. David continues as an Executive Director alongside the CFO role, at a business that now spans eleven countries and four distinct sales channels. He succeeds Brendon Pentland, who stepped down the same day.

Vitrafy Life Sciences announced on 20 October 2026 the appointment of Jan Gielen as CFO, commencing 1 February 2027. Jan arrives from PolyNovo, where he was CFO for almost eight years and saw the business through its shift from an R&D organisation to a commercial medical device company. He succeeds Simon Martin, who will stay on for a further six months.

Nido Education announced on 28 October 2026 the appointment of Cate Chandler as CFO, commencing 4 January 2027. Readers will recognise Cate from last month's departures list; she resigned from Fleetwood in late September and has landed quickly. She brings more than 25 years across Inghams, Brambles, Mantra and Star City. Tom Herring, whose resignation we covered in August, finishes on 5 November.

Compumedics announced on 30 October 2026 the promotion of Deputy CFO Troy Lamb to CFO and Company Secretary, effective 1 November. Troy joined in March 2025 and helped deliver the company's record FY26 result. David Lawson stays on as Finance Director after 26 years with the business. Congratulations to Troy on the promotion.

NTAW Holdings announced on 21 October 2026 the appointment of Sonya Ryan to the newly created role of Chief Operating and Financial Officer, commencing 4 January 2027. Sonya was most recently CFO of The Pedal Group, owner of 99 Bikes and Advance Traders, with more than 20 years across retail, agribusiness and travel.

ASX CFO MOVES OUT

Mader Group announced on 29 October 2026 that Paul Hegarty has stepped down as CFO. Paul joined in September 2020 and spent six years strengthening the finance and reporting functions through a period of heavy international expansion. Executive Director Patrick Conway takes the seat on an interim basis while a permanent search runs.

PolyNovo announced on 20 October 2026 that CFO Jan Gielen will leave after almost eight years to take the same role at Vitrafy Life Sciences, announced the same day. Jan joined in December 2018; total revenue was $13.7 million in FY19 and reached $150.0 million in FY26.

Australian Vintage announced on 28 October 2026 the resignation of CFO Adam Rigano, who finishes in the role on 31 December 2026 and then stays on in an advisory capacity for around two months to hand over.

INTERESTING MOVES OUTSIDE THE ASX

Kimon Giannopoulos has been appointed Group CFO of The NRMA with a start date in the new year. Kimon spent almost sixteen years at Qantas, most recently as Group Executive, Strategy and Finance, and before that, five years as Chief Financial and Strategy Officer of Qantas Loyalty. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in valuations and corporate finance and has sat on the IATA Industry Financial Advisory Council.

Nigel Howe has been promoted to CFO of Frasers Property Australia, after three years as its GM Finance. Nigel joined from KPMG, where he was a Director in Deal Advisory, and spent almost twelve years at Stockland, finishing as Head of Finance for Retirement Living and leading the finance workstream on the divestment of that business to private equity. Congratulations to Nigel on the promotion.

Stephen Hobson has been appointed CFO of Craveable Brands, the PAG-owned group behind Red Rooster, Oporto and Chicken Treat. Stephen joins from Laser Clinics, where he was global CFO for two and a half years, and before that led the demerger of Endeavour Group from Woolworths as GM Transformation and Transition. Earlier CFO roles include Mantra Group and Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

Jacob Muscat has been appointed CFO of National Intermodal, the Commonwealth-owned business behind the Moorebank and Parkes freight terminals. Jacob joins from Australia Post, where he was Deputy CFO leading a finance division of more than 120 people across a $10 billion revenue base. Before that he spent nine years at Ausgrid, latterly as Head of Investment and Delivery Planning.

Mytech Trinh has been appointed global CFO of Roberts Co, the Arada-backed contractor now operating across Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where he leads both finance and IT. Mytech joins from GROW Inc, where he was Head of Managed Funds, after seventeen years at Schroders Australia finishing as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Finance and Governance.

Douw van der Walt has been appointed CFO of JustFund, the Sydney lender that finances family law and estates matters. Douw arrives from MA Financial, where he was CFO of MA Money.

Alistair Black has been appointed CFO of Zeus Street Greek, the Sydney-founded Greek quick service chain now backed by Whiteoak and pushing towards 150 stores. Alistair joins from Hungry Jack's, where he spent six years as Head of Commercial Finance, with earlier roles at Coles, Accent Group, Luxottica and BP. He qualified at Deloitte across London and Sydney.New Paragraph

If you're looking to build your career or your team, reach out. 

Thanks, 

Dave Goldbach & Kunal Gupta 

[axr] Recruitment & Search