1 month ago
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January 28, 2026 — 2:49pm
Supermarket giant Coles has tapped the high-profile communications adviser Clive Mathieson to lead the company’s corporate affairs operation, as the retailer stares down the consumer regulator over concerns about its pricing practices.
The company was preparing to announce Mathieson’s appointment internally after questions from this masthead.
Mathieson – a veteran of corporate Australia’s advisory world, managing PR crises such as the departure of the country’s Test cricket captain in 2021 – is set to join the retailer as its group corporate affairs officer from March 10.
He will arrive at the company in the thick of heightened regulatory and public scrutiny of the sector, and was given the nod because of his experience. In media, that has included a stint as editor of The Australian, before time in state and federal politics, which included a run as chief-of-staff to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Most recently, he was a partner of the high-profile corporate and crisis communications firm Cato & Clive, which told clients this month that the duo would soon go their separate ways, due in part to Mathieson’s new job.
Coles did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appointment.
Mathieson will join a retailer that, along with rival Woolworths, remains in the crosshairs of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb signalled earlier this year that the watchdog could use new powers against the two companies if they did not change their pricing tactics, following allegations of price gouging.
The warning emerged amid a protracted face-off between the ACCC and the two supermarket giants, which kicked off in late 2024, when the regulator launched separate proceedings against Coles and Woolworths in the Federal Court.
The ACCC allegations relate to products sold at regular long-term prices before being subject to brief price rises of “at least 15 per cent” and later marked down in promotions. The watchdog said prices were dropped lower than the price rise, but higher than or equal to the regular price recorded before the increase.
“Following many years of marketing campaigns by Woolworths and Coles, Australian consumers have come to understand that the ‘Prices Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotions relate to a sustained reduction in the regular prices of supermarket products,” the ACCC said in a statement at the time.
“However, in the case of these products, we allege the new ‘Prices Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotional prices were actually higher than, or the same as, the previous regular price.”
More to come.
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