Former defence forces chief joins Deloitte

Former Australian Defence Forces chief, General Peter Cosgrove, has been appointed as a consultant to professional services firm, Deloitte.

Deloitte chief executive officer Giam Swiegers said Cosgrove’s role would have a primarily internal focus, but added the company had a significant change management consultancy group which may also use Cosgrove’s services.

Swiegers said Cosgrove would work part-time for the firm, based in its Sydney offices, where he would act as an adviser to the senior executive team on organisational issues and on the workings of government.

“Secondly, he will be working very closely with people and the performance team on the development of leadership programs,” Swiegers said.

With a staff of around 3,000 professions, Swiegers said 80 per cent of Deloitte staff were under 30 years of age. He said two years ago the company had embarked on a leadership development program and Cosgrove would support that program’s continuation.

“We’re getting someone on side who is really experienced in leadership, who has run big organisations and shares my interest in leadership development, particularly leadership development of young people.

“When I met Peter Cosgrove, I discovered someone who shared my passion for that and had a very interesting way of looking at how leaders work and how teams work,” Swiegers said.

Cosgrove retired this month from the Defence Force’s top job which he held for three years. He had a distinguished career in the Australian Army starting with his graduation from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1968.

At 22, Cosgrove won the Military Cross. He commanded international forces in East Timor, for which he was appointed a Companion of the Military Division of the Order of Australia. He was also named Australian of the Year in 2001.