Former Domain boss Antony Catalano accused of overseeing a boys’ club workplace culture
Following the resignation of Domain chief executive Antony Catalano last week, allegations have surfaced of a sexist culture that tolerated misbehaviour and poor decision making within the real estate company that was spun out of Fairfax last year.
In a series of stories in the Australian Financial Review and Fairfax’s metro titles, the company is alleging Catalano “oversaw a boys club workplace culture” at the newly listed organisation with complaints stretching back two years.
Catalano has reportedly engaged high-profile media and defamation lawyer, Mark O’Brien, to defend himself against the stories, which he reportedly denies.
Fairfax alleges Nick Falloon, chairman of both Fairfax and Domain, was concerned that the Domain boss’ conduct “might not meet the standard required for a chief executive” and confronted Catalano about the allegations over Christmas. The conversation reportedly ended with the CEO resigning on the spot.
While the Fairfax articles do not allege sexual harassment by Catalano or his executives, they suggest a sexist and disrespectful culture within Domain. They also allege that cocaine was regularly taken at staff parties, although the reports say that Catalano denies being involved in this.
“While there was no sexual harassment according to people who work there, there was a general tone of disrespect towards women and a permissive environment that encouraged heavy after hours socialising among work colleagues. Women were referred to as ‘babe’ or ‘doll’ and urged to smile more by male colleagues according to a complaint made to the human resources department.”
The AFR suggests: “Antony Catalano represents the first Australian CEO casualty of the #MeToo era”.
In a further allegation, the reports say that advertisers were taken on overseas junkets where some of the men on the trip used prostitutes.
Catalano’s relationship with Fairfax has been rocky over his career. Having been made redundant from his position as The Age’s property and marketing director in 2008, he founded The Weekly Review with the backing of 20 Melbourne real estate agents with the aim of offering the city’s “most comprehensive display of gloss real estate advertising”.
A year later, Fairfax sued for peace in buying a stake in The Weekly Review’s publisher, and in 2013 appointed Catalano as CEO of the company’s Domain real estate arm.
In a memo to staff, Falloon announced a review of Domain’s culture and encouraged staff to participate: “Be assured that the Board and management are committed to ensuring that Domain is an employer of choice,” Falloon wrote.
“Our future prosperity is based upon the quality of our people and creating a positive, safe and welcoming workplace.”
Fairfax, Domain and Catalano have been approached for comment. Domain Holdings’ stock price fell slightly yesterday losing five cents to close at $3.03. The company peaked at $3.94 on its first day of listing in November last year.
What an ugly way for a grudge to manifest in the press.
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Wow: the manifestation was in catalano being fired. The reporting is what these papers are supposed to do. If you know anything if this you’d know that the risk was one Hywood knee was there from day one.
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How about we just attack every male who is successful in business and in life. Jealousy is still a curse!
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Hywood owns this. Catalano was his protege from day one.
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“In a serious of stories in the Australian Financial Review ”
Wow! Must have been very series indeed 🙂
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Thanks David, typos are a very series matter so we’ve fixed it.
I thought he resigned?
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blow at a media party?……..no way!
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Some balanced coverage would be good – we are only hearing one side of the story. Reeks of a hatchet job.
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I’m a straight, married male and have been called ‘babe’ and ‘handsome’ by a gay male CEO in a previous role. Without having recorded evidence or having made a complaint to the flimsy HR rep, should I be telling my story too?
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Funny how the Oz gossip column seems to be aware of the cats every move.
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Just go with it babe! 😉
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Curious that comments here seem to be assuming that sexist behaviour and drug taking are usual in a work environment. They’re not at Fairfax nor at any publisher I’ve worked at in Australia or overseas.
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I thought Joe Aston was his personal choice?
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What about spell checking his name?
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Thanks
Jesus employ a half decent sub or read over your own copy…it still reads ‘Anthony’ in the top deck…Are you really that amateurish or just bone lazy?
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Hi Philip M,
Thanks for flagging that. Apologies, we amended the spelling from Anthony to Antony in the copy but failed to do so in the headline – now fixed.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Don’t apologise just get it right..It’s really not that hard if you can be bothered trying….amateurs
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This is Fairfax culture! Boys club to the tea! Having previously worked for this mob!
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Employee: if that’s the case it must be recent. I worked there most of my career until recently and in general and most of the time the workplace was terrific. Good people behaving well.
I knew Hywood and he was always a bit weak. We all knew he really fell for catalano and the whole glamour thing. We all knew catalano would be a problem, going back to his days at the age. The thing that no one ever understood was how the board over many years allowed so much crap to happen.
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