WA investment firm Minderoo brings on Joe Pollard

West Australian-based investment firm, Minderoo, has recruited former Telstra CMO, Joe Pollard, to advise its marketing and corporations team over coming months.

The interim role encompasses both Minderoo’s commercial portfolio, including its property, agrifood, natural resources and energy investments, as well as its Foundation, a philanthropic organisation aiming to help tackle persistent global issues such as modern slavery, cancer research, creating parity for indigenous Australians and environmental conservation.

In a statement, Minderoo said the short-term advisory role was designed to support the marketing and corporate communications team while a permanent communications leader is confirmed over coming months. To help, the company has brought on executive recruitment firm, Hourigan International.

Minderoo is a major investor in hefty Australian brands such as Fortescue Metals Group, Harvest Group and Squadron Resources and Energy. It was founded in 2001 by Australian iron ore billionaire, Andrew Forrest, and his wife, Nicola Forrest.

Pollard will commute to Perth while undertaken the role, which officially commenced last week. Most recently, Pollard was the CMO and group executive for media at Telstra for more than three years there before her role was axed at the ASX-listed telco 12 months ago as part of a major executive shake-up. Since then, she has been acting as a non-executive director and marketing consultant.

Prior to Telstra, Pollard was CEO of Publicis Mojo. Her resume includes working in marketing, media and digital across Australia, the UK, Hong Kong, US and Japan for brands such as Nike, Nine Entertainment Co and ninemsn.

“Joe is one of Australia’s leading marketing executives,” Minderoo chief executive, Andrew Hagger, said. “It is a privilege to welcome someone with her experience to the organisation. The Minderoo team is excited to have her on-board, hear her ideas and work with her to strengthen Minderoo’s voice here in Western Australia, across the country and around the world.”

Pollard said she had been following Minderoo’s progress from afar for some time. “I’ve been impressed by the breadth and calibre of the projects the organisation and Andrew and Nicole Forrest take on,” she commented.

“I think Minderoo has tremendous capacity and potential and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together in the time that I’m here.”

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