PR guru Clive Mathieson hit the headlines last week, announcing his “life-changing work offer” that led to the shutdown of his advisory firm Cato & Clive.
Now, his move has been revealed: Mathieson is set to become Coles‘ head of corporate affairs.
Mathieson brings decades of experience across corporate, politics and media advisory roles, including a tenure at The Australian as editor, chief-of-staff to former Australian prime minister Malcom Turnbull and most recently co-founder of crisis communications firm Cato & Clive alongside Sue Cato.
He’ll likely need those years of experience, too, with Coles (and Woolies, in fairness) facing increasing scrutiny from the ACCC over pricing practices.
In this role, Mathieson will oversee strategic communications and stakeholder engagement as Coles navigates regulatory pressures and works to strengthen its corporate messaging.
His appointment follows the departure of Sally Fielke, who moved to News Corp Australia as group executive of corporate affairs, after six years with Coles Group. The leadership selection reflects Coles’ emphasis on high-profile advisory experience to guide the retailer through both public and regulatory uncertainty.
