The appointment of the former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank Guy Debelle as head of finance at FFI was a major coup for Forrest,thus his departure nine months later is an equally large loss,at least from a public relations perspective.
Debelle would have had his pick of corporate appointments or board positions,not least of which potentially taking on the top job at the RBA.
His decision to leave his executive post at FFI and “transition” to a board position has been explained as the need to look after his health after a biking accident.
Regardless of how many talented people it employs and the titles bestowed on them,Fortescue is ultimately governed by Forrest.
Regardless of whether people are buying it and although it is probably legitimate,it will still get caught in the tide of perception that Fortescue is dysfunctional.
Fortescue has never been a gold-star governance enterprise. Companies founded and controlled by a major shareholder rarely are.