Rupert Murdoch will resume the position of chairman of the Australian arm of his News Limited empire after John Hartigan announced his retirement from the role of CEO and Chairman.

Mr Hartigan’s retirement ends a 41 year career with News Limited after he joining the Daily Mirror as a cadet in 1970.

Kim Williams, outgoing chief of pay-TV service Foxtel, will assume the role of CEO of News Limited’s Australian operations. Richard Freudenstein, current CEO of News Digital Media and The Australian, will assume Mr William’s role.

Dr William Coote has been appointed permanent Director of the Professional Services Review (PSR), Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon announced.

Dr Coote, who has been the acting Director of PSR since 14 August 2011, will begin his three-year appointment on 14 November 2011.

The PSR is an independent statutory authority that investigates whether health practitioners have inappropriately provided services that attract benefits under the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS), or have inappropriately prescribed medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

“The PSR plays an important role in protecting the integrity of the MBS and PBS,” Ms Roxon said.

“As the Director of PSR, Dr Coote will help to ensure that taxpayers do not bear the cost of medical services that fail to meet the expectations of the medical profession.”

Dr Coote is an experienced general practitioner with considerable expertise in health policy, training and practice. Previously, Dr Coote was the Secretary General of the Australian Medical Association and the inaugural CEO of General Practice Education and Training Ltd, and has operated a general practice in South Brisbane.

Ms Roxon said she was pleased Dr Coote had accepted the appointment and looked forward to working with him.

Shelly Park, CEO of Southern Health, Victoria’s largest public health service, has been awarded Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year.

Macquarie’s longest serving employee, deputy Chief Executive Officer Richard Sheppard, has announced he will be stepping down from the position and departing the company after 36 years of service.

Dexus Property Group has received its first strike against its executive remuneration report, becoming the first property group to face a board spill under the new corporate governance laws.

Former NAB executive Jonathan Ayres has been enlisted by emergent Bank of Melbourne (BOM) to accelerate the company’s growth.

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