Super Retail Group chairwoman Judith Swales has survived a stiff protest vote from investors seeking answers on the sacking of former chief executive Anthony Heraghty , as she pointed to improving trust and encouraging a safe workplace environment as an “absolute focus” for the retailer.

Heraghty’s secret relationship with the head of HR Jane Kelly plunged the $3.7 billion retailer into a multimillion-dollar legal stoush. On Thursday, Swales blamed the board’s decision to stand by Heraghty on the advice it received from an external law firm that had “thoroughly investigated” the matter and found “none of the allegations are substantiated”.

“We engaged an external law firm who undertook the investigation and we acted, we relied on that,” Swales told shareholders at the company’s annual

See Full Page