Vocation CFO to take on top job

Embattled education provider Vocation has elevated its interim chief financial officer, Stewart Cummins, to the chief executive's job.

Vocation's interim chief financial officer Stewart Cummins will take the helm of the embattled education provider as it works to recover from a scandal over its services.

Mr Cummins was appointed interim chief financial officer in December 2014 after holding executive posts at TNT and Transpacific, and will be elevated to his new job on May 1.

He replaces Mark Hutchinson, who has overseen a major review of the company after the Victorian government withdrew $20 million in funding amid criticism of the quality of Vocation's education services.

Mr Hutchinson, who in January flagged his planned departure, said Vocation had spent the past four months overhauling its operations and cutting costs.

"Now this restructure is complete, it is time to introduce the new CEO, Stewart, whom I've been very impressed with over the past few months, to drive the business forward," he said.

Chairman Douglas Halley said Vocation expected to announce the outcomes of its strategic review and revised earnings guidance within weeks.

He also said he had been impressed with Mr Cummins since he joined Vocation, and with his role in the review.

"Stewart has demonstrated the key qualities that Vocation needs over the next few years in particular, and is the preferred choice from internal and external candidates," Mr Halley said.

Mr Cummins' remuneration package includes a $600,000 salary plus long-term incentives.

Vocation landed in strife in September amid rumours of problems with two of its Victorian subsidiaries, sending its shares tumbling.

A month later the Victorian government stripped it of $20 million in funding after an audit review lambasted the performance and practices of Vocation's two subsidiaries BAWM and Aspin.

The company's then chairman, former Keating government treasurer John Dawkins, quit in November.

Vocation has sold various businesses in recent weeks, which has helped reduce its debt pile to less than $10 million.

The company suffered a $273 million loss in the first half of 2014/15.

Vocation's shares closed 4.6 cents higher at 12.5 cents.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world