CBA tries to manipulate the press

READ about how CBA migth be punishing the Daily Telegraph for its reporting of the sexual harassment claim against two former CBA executives

 

Bank’s general manager of marketing, Mark Buckman, refused to be drawn on claims within the advertising industry that the bank had pulled its advertising budget from News Ltd’s The Daily Telegraph because of its treatment of a sexual harassment story involving a former marketing executive at the bank.

Mr Buckman also indicated to the Herald he was considering his candidacy for chairman of the Australian Association of National Advertisers, a position which is also being contemplated by News Ltd’s group marketing and circulation director, Joe Talcott.

Mr Talcott and Mr Buckman are considered the most likely candidates to take over from the retiring chairman and head of marketing at Nestle, Ian Alwill. Both men have said they will be seeking each other’s advice and from members of the association on the outcome.

Mr Talcott told the Herald last week he was keen to head the peak advertising body in Australia, but was concerned about potential conflicts because of his position at News Ltd.

“I’d be interested, but on the other hand there is no mistaking the fact News Ltd is a media organisation,” he said “What I don’t want is some type of conflict. That’s what I’m grappling with.”

His first conflict has already surfaced. He and Mr Buckman both serve as the association’s joint deputy chairman.

When asked about the Commonwealth Bank’s advertising boycott of The Daily Telegraph, a News Ltd spokesman said the company had no comment.

Mr Buckman was equally blunt. “I have no comment on that. That’s all I’m saying.”

The sexual harassment case is before the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Although refusing to be drawn into the stoush with News Ltd, Mr Buckman tentatively flagged his interest in the top job at the association.

“We need to work through the appropriate leadership to succeed Ian,” Mr Buckman said. “That may or may not be me. The [association's] board is going to explore all that … I certainly have an interest as far as protecting commercial free speech of marketing.

“For a $30 billion industry, which is what the Australian industry is, there are lots of people who sit on the sidelines. As a united organisation, we will have a better chance of protecting commercial free speech. Otherwise we will be prone to more regulation.”

Another Big Name Australian Accused of Harassment….

ACCUSATIONS of sexual harassment and bullying have been made against a former senior executive of the Commonwealth Bank by a female colleague who claims he bombarded her with sexual invitations, then isolated her when they were rejected.

Michael Blomfield, who was running local business banking at the time, has been named in a complaint filed with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission.

The alleged victim of his advances, a marketing and business analyst, Vivienne Dye, claims Mr Blomfield made sexual advances to her from when she began working for him in June 2006.

Ms Dye alleges Mr Blomfield had “rubbed himself” against her several times and had asked her to marry him and “have his babies” if he left his wife.

She also claims Mr Blomfield had earlier told her that there was nothing wrong with workplace romances.

“I’m not the morals police; there’s nothing wrong with two consenting adults around here; David Murray is proof of that,” he is alleged to have said.

Mr Murray, who was a former chief executive of the bank, married his executive assistant.

Ms Dye said she was harassed and discriminated against, and in constant fear of losing her job, until she left the bank last December.

She said Mr Blomfield was regarded as a “rock star” at the bank and considered a future chief executive.

He left the bank on March 7, after his departure was announced in February. At the time the bank said he was leaving to take up a role as the chief executive of a niche wealth management company.

Mr Blomfield said yesterday that there was “nothing untoward” about his departure but would not say what was his new job was.

He refused to comment about the claims against him.

A bank spokesman, Bryan Fitzgerald said the bank “strongly denied the allegations that have been made [by Ms Dye]“.

Before running local business banking, Mr Blomfield was head of the online broker CommSec and introduced margin lending, retail foreign exchange and cash investment products.

Ms Dye said he had a reputation within the bank of “targeting females in the bank and trying to bed them”.

 

Christina Rich settles claim

 Congratulations to Christina Rich on settling her claim with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.  Judging by the beaming smile on her face as she left the courtroom, it looks like she reached a favourable settlement.  Reach the story below.  

Christina Rich, a financial adviser recruited from New Zealand nine years ago to become a million-dollar partner in the Australian arm of accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers, has settled a sexual harassment claim against the firm.

Ms Rich, 44, returned home to Sydney from London three years ago to pursue an A$11 million ($12.7 million) claim against 20 PricewaterhouseCoopers partners - including chief executive Tony Harrington and the entire board, led by chairman Paul Brasher.

She alleged sexual harassment and discrimination, victimisation and bullying, and claimed in Australia’s biggest workplace sexism lawsuit that a “boys club” culture existed at PricewaterhouseCoopers that restricted her and other women from progressing through the ranks.

She also alleged that a partner felt her breasts and that her immediate boss repeatedly invited her to his hotel room during a conference in 1999 - shortly after she was recruited from New Zealand - and adopted a practice of greeting her with a kiss, despite her objections.

She was beaming as she left court yesterday after reaching a secret settlement in her sexual harassment case against the accounting giant.

“I would like to thank my family, my friends, my many supporters, my legal team,” she said outside the Federal Court. “It’s been a long process and I’m glad it’s over.”

In an earlier media statement she accepted that her former boss, Stuart Edwards, believed that kisses placed on her cheek were “platonic”.

In November 1999 when the partners were attending a PricewaterhouseCooper’s conference, Ms Rich found five handwritten notes from “Stuart” under her door at her Santa Monica Hotel room, she said in her statement of claim.

“Christina, if you would like to carry on that conversation we were having in the bar I am in room … Stuart,” one said. Another said: “I’ve gone to bed but please wake me if you are still awake, Stuart.”

Ms Rich said she recognised the handwriting as Mr Edwards’.

Early in the lawsuit Ms Rich alleged Mr Edwards regularly kissed her on the cheek and when she objected he told her that he “knew what was best for [her]“.

She alleged that between 1999 and 2004, repeated sexual harassment went unchecked, her complaints about discrimination were not taken seriously, and she was punished by being banned from carrying out her job.

In her statement of claim Ms Rich said that at Sydney’s Orient Hotel in November 2001, after a work function and in the presence of colleagues, another partner pushed her against a wall, forcibly undid her bra and felt her breasts.

In February 2002 during a discussion about her success with clients, another partner, Greg Lazarus, was alleged to have said: “That’s because, Christina, they are talking to your breasts.”

At a young leaders’ conference in May 2004 a video showing a woman sunbathing topless was displayed and another partner and board member, Tim Cox, allegedly asked: “Christina, is that you sunbathing on the beach?”

Ms Rich sat smiling in court as Judge Catherine Branson wrapped up proceedings and congratulated the parties for coming to an agreement.

Ms Rich was employed as a transfer pricing partner and was paid over A$900,000. She was considered one of the top five advisers in the Asia-Pacific in the area of transfer pricing.