Dr Brian McNamee AO will retire from CSL's board in March next year, and Gordon Naylor, who has served as Interim CEO and Managing Director since February, will become the company's chair.
The company told investors that the board's decision to elect Mr Naylor was unanimous and came "following a thorough process". It described Mr Naylor as the person "best placed, most qualified and trusted to lead them".
The appointment comes as the company's leadership is already changing hands. Mr Naylor, a long-serving former senior executive and an experienced non-executive director, will stay on as interim chief executive until 1 February 2027. After handing over to incoming Chief Executive Deborah Waterhouse, he will return to the board as a non-executive director and Chair-elect, then step into the chair two months later.
Because he will come to the chair straight from an executive role, Mr Naylor will not initially be considered an independent chair. To manage this, the board has appointed Carolyn Hewson AO as Senior Independent Director, also from 31 March 2027. The company said the appointment recognises that Mr Naylor has held an executive role with CSL in the 12 months before becoming chair.
Ms Hewson paid tribute to the outgoing chair. "The Board acknowledges and celebrates Brian's enormous contribution to CSL since the company's inception. Brian's significant influence and legacy are seen through the long-term positive impact on our donors, patients, employees and shareholders and as a result they are difficult to overstate."
She said Mr Naylor's long experience with the business made him the right choice. "Brian leaves big shoes to fill and few people understand plasma, vaccines and this company as well as Gordon. That is why the Board chose to move forward into CSL's next chapter with Gordon as its Chair. His extensive career at CSL gives him unique knowledge and insight to assume this role and his experience as a director will ensure strong governance and oversight on behalf of shareholders."