Much of Peter’s later career has been spent in volatile turnaround environments where he developed a talent for orchestrating successful change programmes. Of note, he played a key role in the Ampol –Caltex merger (at the time Australia’s biggest ever merger) developing a new retail strategy; the re-structuring of Arnotts and reinvigoration of its ailing brands and was the architect of the turnaround of the McDonald’s business in Australia and New Zealand
Notable highlights in Peter’s career include:
- The ‘Arnotts Extortion’- Australia’s biggest ever product extortion- the Arnotts management of the event is regarded as textbook. Peter was awarded a mention as one of the ‘Ten Top Executives of the Year’ by BRW (Business Review Weekly, Australia’s #1 Business magazine) for his role in the management of the event.
-1998 Sydney Hobart Yachty Race- Peter managed the unfolding crisis on the ground and was chairman of the official inquiry into the event (Australia’s biggest ever maritime disaster) and produced a 200 page report that revolutionised ocean racing safety procedures around the world.
-He set up his own consulting business, Hallam Bush Associates, in March 1998. Apart from McDonald’s, clients included Optus, Qantas, Sanitarium, Telstra, George Patterson Bates and John Singleton Advertising, Integral Energy, Herron Pharmaceuticals…among others.
The consulting business specialised in providing strategy advice, developing new strategies and aligning the company and culture to strategy, structure and capability. Additionally Peter independently did a considerable amount of work in crisis management due to his experience at Arnotts and the Sydney Hobart Race.
Peter has held several independent non-executive directorships- including Wines Pty Ltd, the Institute for Psycho-Social Research, McDonald’s Australia Limited, Speeedfins, Frucor (Frucor was cited in Forbes Magazine as one of the world’s top ten small companies in 2001) and Lion Nathan Limited.
Peter became involved with McDonald’s though his consulting company in mid 2001 and was the architect of the turnaround of the Australian business. He ultimately led McDonald’s Australia to be the best performing McDonald’s business in the world for 5 consecutive years. Many of the strategies he developed have now been deployed throughout the world.
Peter retired from McDonald’s and his role of Divisional President for Pacific Middle East and Africa in April 2010 to (he says) slow down a little.
Peter’s reputation in the market is someone who thinks outside the square, gets results and is an inspirational leaded. He is passionate about his work, doesn’t tolerate fools and hates to lose.
Peter is a keen sailor and a veteran of 18 Sydney-Hobart yacht races; a passionate…no fanatical Wallaby fan and he rides a bike (though he will say not often enough) to keep fit.
Since retiring from McDonald’s Peter is pursuing his own business interests- including running a one thousand acre property in the Snowy Mountains. He is a non executive director on the board of Pacific Brand’s Group Limited, and Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG) and is chairman of Nine Entertainment Holdings (the old Packer magazine and television business).
