Webjet Group has appointed prominent company director and five per cent shareholder Dr Gary Weiss AM as a non-executive director, effective 1 May – bringing onto its board one of the key figures behind last year’s rival takeover bid, as the company navigates a period of significant leadership change.
The appointment comes after CEO and managing director Katrina Barry announced her resignation in March, with the board yet to name her successor. Barry, who led the company through its demerger and ASX listing before overseeing a bruising takeover saga, will remain with the business until a successor is found.
The appointment is subject to shareholder approval at the company’s annual general meeting in August.
Weiss is executive director of Ariadne Australia, which holds a 5.01 per cent stake in Webjet Group. Ariadne maintains a co-operation agreement with private equity firm BGH Capital, with the two together controlling 18.28 per cent of the company’s issued share capital.
In November 2025, the BGH-Ariadne consortium – with Weiss as a central figure – launched a 91-cent-per-share rival bid for Webjet Group, pipping a $353 million offer from Helloworld by a cent. Neither bid ultimately proceeded, with Webjet Group confirming in March it had ceased takeover discussions after neither party submitted a binding offer.
The consortium had previously lodged a non-binding indicative offer of 80 cents per share in May 2025, which the board rejected as undervaluing the business. A separate push to install two consortium-aligned directors – including Weiss’s son Daniel – was abandoned in November after failing to attract sufficient shareholder support.
Weiss brings more than 35 years of experience as a director and investor across ASX-listed and private companies in property, retail, investment and entertainment. He currently chairs Coast Entertainment Holdings and Cromwell Property Group, and serves as deputy chairman of Myer Holdings.
Webjet Group chair Don Clarke said Weiss’s board and investment experience, commercial judgement and governance expertise would be valuable as the company pursued its strategic agenda.
The board said it was continuing to assess additional director candidates to support succession planning and maintain an appropriate balance of skills, experience and independence.
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