on 31 december 2017, ceo of the company at the time richard cousins was killed in a seaplane accident at cottage point near the hawkesbury river north of sydney, australia. the aircraft was a six-seat de havilland canada dhc-2 beaver seaplane. cousins planned to retire in 2018, with the intention that he would be succeeded as ceo by dominic blakemore on 1 april; the succession was brought forward to 1 january 2018.