Endeavour Group’s executive chairman Ari Mervis has resigned from the Australian retail, wine and spirits business following a dispute with its board.
“Endeavour Group today announces that Mr Ari Mervis has resigned as Executive Chairman effective 3 August 2025, citing disagreements with the board,” an announcement on the ASX read today (4 August).
Mervis had been promoted to executive chairman in February, following the departure of Endeavour Group’s CEO Steve Donohue in March.
Duncan Makeig, lead independent director, will take on the interim chair position and manage the search for a new independent chair.
The chair position is expected to be filled before the start of next year, Endeavour said.
Endeavour’s chief financial officer Katie Beattie has also been appointed interim CEO.
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By GlobalDataJayne Hrdlicka was picked to take the reins as CEO of Endeavour in May. She starts the role in March next year.
Group deputy CFO Tali Ross is to become interim CFO of the company.
Makeig said: “Kate has worked closely with the management team to ensure that operational performance and momentum is maintained across our business. We are confident in Kate’s ability to continue leading the business as interim CEO through to Jayne’s commencement in January.”
“The Board and management are undertaking a strategy refresh which will include a portfolio-wide examination of the Group’s performance, key business drivers and execution across Retail, Hotels and the Pinnacle business, with the clear aim of maximising long term shareholder value.”
Commenting on Mervis’ departure, Makeig added: “The board acknowledges Ari’s service to Endeavour Group, a company we all agree has an irreplaceable asset base and unique opportunities in the future.”
In the same announcement, Endeavour also revealed its preliminary estimates for its full-year results for 2025.
It expects its full-year sales for 2025 to reach A$12.1bn. The group booked A$12.3bn in sales in 2024.
Statutory net profit after tax is anticipated to sit between A$420m and $425m, which would be a dip on last year, where the company saw profit for the period after tax sit at A$512.
Endeavour attributed the predicted 2025 figure to “a number of one-off items” in the period, such as “restructuring and redundancy costs and an impairment” linked to shutting its Prowine bottling site in South Australia.
Endeavour’s final full-year results for 2025 will be published on 25 August.
