CPA practice ramps up rebellion campaign

Lejo Ouwendyk, managing director of Kennerlys in Perth, has distributed a survey to what he’s calling a “significant number of CPA public practices Australia-wide.”

The survey is looking to find out if members want the current CPA board to step down, the appointment of five representative divisional presidents, and an experienced independent chair to form an interim board to temporarily guide CPA Australia through its current crisis.

“CPA Australia has been a great brand for Kennerlys as it reflects many of our values and we are proud to be a CPA public practice,” said Mr Ouwendyk.

“A complete change-out of the board is necessary to move forward, and divisional presidents appear to be the most obvious source from which to form this interim board,” he said.

“This board can review our practices, together with current activities. It can seek and share advice to steer the organisation back in the right direction and re-cement CPA as a leader in corporate governance. This will, in turn, provide a platform for a more orderly transition to a new board in due course.

“We need to have a board that has been voted by members to review the organisation and recommend the changes that need to happen to steady us on course and regain our stability and reputation.”

In late June, four CPA Australia members created an online survey calling for a spill motion against the board, with a view to get 5,000 members involved.