Australia's CSL appoints interim CEO Gordon Naylor as new chair

Oct 26 (Reuters) - Australia's CSL CSL.AX appointed Gordon Naylor as its chair on Monday, effective March 31, 2027.

Naylor, who has been serving as the biotechnology company's interim CEO and managing director since February, will replace the current chair, Brian McNamee.

The new chair appointment comes days after the firm named GSK executive Deborah Waterhouse as its next chief executive and managing director, completing a change at the top of one of Australia's biggest companies.

"His (Naylor's) extensive career at CSL gives him unique knowledge and insight to assume this role and his experience as a director will ensure strong governance and oversight on behalf of shareholders," said Carolyn Hewson, incoming senior independent director.

As previously announced, Naylor will continue in his current role until February 1, 2027, when Waterhouse will become the first woman to lead CSL.

Incumbent chair McNamee will retire at the end of March next year, after serving as CSL chair for over eight years.

Prior to being appointed as CSL's chair in October 2018, McNamee was CSL's chief executive officer and managing director from 1990 until 2013.