Fairfax turns on Catalano as Domain chairman seeks HR workplace environment review

Fairfax turns on Catalano as Domain chairman seeks HR workplace environment review
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 7, 2020

The Fairfax-backed Domain Group has told staff it was undertaking a HR review of its workplace culture.

It coincides with a series of three articles this week by The Australian Financial Review with allegations of a "Wolf of Wall Street atmosphere" where its former chief executive Antony Catalano allegedly led a “high octane, blokey, boys' club.” 

Catalano was unavailable for comment to Fairfax Media reporters this week, but The Australian reported he had engaged defamation lawyer Mark O'Brien.

An email was sent to Domain employees on Wednesday by the acting executive chairman Nick Falloon who pledged to undertake a review of its working environment.

Falloon’s email to all Domain staff said they “would have seen the AFR report this morning regarding Domain”. There have been two further articles as Fairfax Media ratcheted up the pursuit of their former executive.

The latest article is today headlined, "Antony Catalano: The fall of a party boy."

The Aaron Patrick piece write-off alleged "the Domain CEO represents the first Australian corporate casualty of the worldwide movement against inappropriate workplace behaviour triggered by Harvey Weinstein."

Fairfax holds a 60 per cent stake in Domain. The Catalano-led division, mostly Melbourne-based, previously reported directly to the Sydney-based Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood.

“Be assured that the board and management are committed to ensuring that Domain is an employer of choice. Our future prosperity is based on the quality of our people and creating a positive, safe and welcoming workplace,” Falloon told Domain staff.

“We believe Domain has done well in this regard. But we can always do better.

“Accordingly, we have recently commissioned a review of our working environment. We ask that you all participate in this review so we can further improve our workplaces for the future.”

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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