CSL names Gordon Naylor as next Chair as Brian McNamee retires
CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) has announced that Dr Brian McNamee AO will retire from the Board on 31 March 2027, with Mr Gordon Naylor elected as the next CSL Chair, effective the same date.
The Board of Directors reached the decision unanimously, following a thorough process.
Mr Naylor has been CSL’s Interim CEO and Managing Director since February 2026. As previously announced, he will continue in that role until 1 February 2027, while the company moves to its incoming Chief Executive, Ms Deborah Waterhouse.
Key dates from the announcement:
- McNamee retirement: 31 March 2027
- Naylor becomes Chair: 31 March 2027
- Naylor’s Interim CEO and Managing Director role ends: 1 February 2027
- Carolyn Hewson AO becomes Senior Independent Director: 31 March 2027
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Why the Board chose Gordon Naylor
The Board described Mr Naylor as a highly experienced non-Executive Director and a proven former senior executive of CSL. It said he is the person best placed, most qualified and trusted to lead the Board.
Mr Naylor’s 33 years of company experience, including turnaround work at Seqirus, underpin the Board’s view that he is the most qualified person to lead it.
After what the company called a thoughtful and orderly transition with Ms Waterhouse, CSL’s incoming Chief Executive, Mr Naylor will resume his role on the Board as a non-Executive Director, and as Chair Elect. For investors, the announcement sets out a defined succession path for the Chair.
The Board’s stated rationale centres on his plasma and vaccines knowledge, as set out by Ms Hewson.
Carolyn Hewson AO
“Brian leaves big shoes to fill and few people understand plasma, vaccines and this company as well as Gordon. That is why the Board chose to move forward into CSL’s next chapter with Gordon as its Chair. His extensive career at CSL gives him unique knowledge and insight to assume this role and his experience as a director will ensure strong governance and oversight on behalf of shareholders.”
Senior Independent Director role explained
A Chair leads the Board of Directors. A Senior Independent Director is a Board member who is independent of management and acts as a check on Board governance.
The Board has appointed Ms Carolyn Hewson AO as Senior Independent Director, effective 31 March 2027. The appointment recognises that Mr Naylor will not be initially considered as an independent Board Chair, due to his executive role with CSL over the 12 months prior to stepping into the Board Chair role.
Ms Hewson said Mr Naylor’s experience as a director will ensure strong governance and oversight on behalf of shareholders.
Brian McNamee’s legacy and what happens next
Ms Hewson said the Board acknowledges and celebrates Dr McNamee’s contribution to CSL since the company’s inception.
Carolyn Hewson AO
“Brian’s significant influence and legacy are seen through the long-term positive impact on our donors, patients, employees and shareholders and as a result they are difficult to overstate.”
The announced sequence of changes is as follows:
- Mr Naylor continues as Interim CEO and Managing Director until 1 February 2027, with a transition to Ms Deborah Waterhouse, CSL’s incoming Chief Executive.
- Following the transition, Mr Naylor resumes his role on the Board as a non-Executive Director, and as Chair Elect.
- Dr Brian McNamee AO retires from the Board on 31 March 2027.
- Mr Gordon Naylor becomes Chair, and Ms Carolyn Hewson AO becomes Senior Independent Director, both effective 31 March 2027.
Investors weighing what the new Chair inherits can turn to our detailed coverage of CSL’s FY26 results, which breaks down the $3.1b underlying NPATA, the CSL Vifor impairments and the FY27 outlook.
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