Incoming BCA President announced
(18 October 2019 - Australia) Former MYOB CEO Tim Reed has been announced as the new incoming Business Council of Australia (BCA) President.
The youngest ever appointee, Mr Reed plans to promote key issues including skills, red tape and tax breaks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. He also committed to remaining outspoken on social issues unlike previous BCA Presidents Grant King and Catherine Livingstone.
Mr Reed became the leading candidate after departing MYOB after 16 years as CEO, previously holding senior roles in sales, marketing, product and business development at several tech organisations.
Mr Reed faces the immediate challenge of balancing BCA member interests after Medibank dropped their BCA membership this year citing costs and a lack of focus on health. In contrast new members including Google and Uber have gained membership which Mr Reed said indicated the changing nature of the economy. He announced that his initial two-year term would focus on advocating for SMEs, in addition to their traditional Top 500 institutional base.
"I don't think Australians are anti-business, I think Australians like to go to work and feel secure in their jobs, they want to believe there will be jobs for their children. Overwhelmingly they believe that will come from business, not government. The Prime Minister has been very clear that business needs to prosecute the case for business, and I couldn't agree with him more" Mr Reed stated.
"We have been thinking about the way in which big and small business work together, what we know is that they prosper together. I grew up in a family business, I've spent the last 16 years of my career really focused on the needs of small business. I think there are great opportunities for us going forward to strengthen ties between big and small business" he added.
“It is the right time to have a BCA president with his background, skills, focus on both big and small business and his passionate belief in the role that business plays in society” commented BCA CEO Jennifer Westacott said
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg welcomed the industry experience and insight Mr Reed would bring while shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said he looked forward to working with him on ways to grow the economy and create more jobs and opportunities for more people. Outgoing president Mr King stated that Mr Reed was the "right person".
“Tim Reed is the right person for the job, and I congratulate him wholeheartedly. Hailing from a family business and former MYOB CEO, Tim has demonstrated his passion for small business and the critical role business plays in the community. I am particularly encouraged by Tim’s commitment to bringing both big and small businesses together, so they can prosper together” commented The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Kate Carnell.
“He has a huge opportunity here to advocate for small business and to strengthen ties between big and small business, and he has my full confidence in doing just that. I look forward to working with Tim and the BCA going forward, to achieve the best possible outcomes for hard-working Australian small businesses" she added.
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