Super Retail Group, the company behind Rebel, Supercheap Auto, and Macpac, has named Paul Bradshaw as its new CEO, effective November 1, following the dismissal of former chief executive Anthony Heraghty.

Heraghty was recently removed from his role amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a former employee.

The board reportedly discovered that he had not fully disclosed the nature of his relationship with Jane Kelly, the company’s former head of human resources.

The newly appointed CEO, was named this year, in court documents during the company’s recent whistleblower litigation as an executive who allegedly witnessed inappropriate conduct involving his former boss and the head of HR.

Court filings allege that Mr. Bradshaw saw former CEO Anthony Heraghty place his hand on ex-HR director Jane Kelly’s thigh during an executive leadership team offsite drinks event in Manly, Sydney—one of the more sensational claims to emerge from the workplace scandal that rocked the retailer.

Mr. Bradshaw, formerly the head of BCF, has now been promoted to lead Super Retail as it prepares to face shareholder unrest at this week’s annual general meeting, where chair Judith Swales is expected to face a strong protest vote over her handling of the scandal.

In his new role, Mr. Bradshaw will oversee the company’s retail brands, including BCF, Supercheap Auto, Rebel, and Macpac.

Court documents mention Mr. Bradshaw multiple times, noting that he allegedly witnessed the personal contact between Mr. Heraghty and Ms. Kelly and believed an affair may have been occurring.

Paul Bradshaw Super Retail CEO

Bradshaw previously led Super Retail’s Boating, Camping, Fishing division and will now step into the top role at the embattled retailer.

The controversy follows workplace litigation initiated in April by two former senior executives who claimed Heraghty engaged in an illicit relationship with Kelly. Initially, the board had publicly supported Heraghty during this legal dispute.

Super Retail is now also facing additional legal action.

Former employee Renai Williams has filed a claim with the Fair Work Commission, alleging the company took unlawful action against her during her employment because she exercised her workplace rights. The matter will first undergo mediation at the Commission, with the possibility of escalating to the Federal Court if not resolved.

Court documents filed by Rebecca Farrell, the former chief legal officer at Super Retail, allege that Paul Bradshaw, along with several other senior executives, believed an affair was occurring between then-CEO Anthony Heraghty and ex-HR director Jane Kelly as early as 2023. Farrell was involved in workplace litigation against the retailer, which included claims about the alleged relationship.

According to the documents, on 11 August 2023, Supercheap Auto MD Benjamin Ward, Rebel MD Gary Williams, and Macpac MD Cathy Seaholme verbally informed Farrell that they believed Heraghty and Kelly were in a relationship. They said this made it impossible to raise concerns about Kelly’s conduct with Heraghty. Similar concerns were reportedly raised four days later by Bradshaw and other executives.

The filings also allege that in April 2022, Bradshaw “observed Heraghty resting his hand on Kelly’s thigh while the executive leadership team were drinking at a bar in Manly, New South Wales.”

Bradshaw now succeeds Heraghty, who was sacked by the Super Retail board last month after it found he had not fully disclosed the nature of his relationship with Kelly. Earlier in the year, the board had initially supported Heraghty when the company faced workplace litigation from two former senior executives, whose allegations included claims of an illicit sexual relationship between Heraghty and Kelly.