Inside Employment, Episode 6: Understanding the complexity of executive and CEO separations

Recorded 24 February 2026

In this episode, Employment Partner Tony Wood and Executive Counsel Lucy Boyd are joined by HSF Kramer partner (and Corporate law icon), Priscilla Bryans. The team unpack what really happens behind the AFR headlines and discuss an array of issues, starting with the recent data showing a spate of CEO turnovers from both Australia and the US. 

Tony, Lucy and Priscilla also discuss: 

• Why succession planning is so important, and why it takes so much time
• The impact on the cap on termination benefits under the Corporations Act
• How STI and LTI incentives are a key issue in executive separations and why there is more interest than ever from shareholder activists and proxy advisors
• The greater accountability of executives for misconduct and behavioural issues, coupled with the plethora of laws regulating bullying and whistleblowing
• The changing composition of Boards and why the critical mass of female non-executive directors is changing the leadership culture of big business