Jerry Schwartz is no fish out of water

Red shield appeal

The Salvation Army launches its 2018 Red Shield Appeal on May 10 with more than 500 of the business community heavy weights attending the launch at the Westin Hotel, Sydney.

The Salvos are hoping to raise up to $73 million across the country through the annual appeal and door knock.

The cash will used to help provide meals, beds, shelter and support to those in need. Given its two days after Scott Morrison's federal budget, there should be some extra cash in the coffers from his tax cuts.

Sponsors JLL and Steadfast will be well represented with Stephen Conry and Linda Ellis respectively, while philanthropist and head of the Caledonian Foundation Ian Darling is the delivering the speech.

Others who have accepted the invitation are retailers Scentre Group's CEO Peter Allen and Woolies head Brad Banducci as well as Andrew Cairns from Community Sector Banking.

AGL's Andrew Vesey and Austgrid's Trevor Armstrong will be there to ensure the power and gas stays on.

But CBD is sure some of the guests will be taking a discreet look at their phones during the launch as AMP is holding its AGM in Melbourne that day.

Sonia Kruger will be the Emcee this year as long time host, Georgie Gardner is in London covering that other major event, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Former polly and head of the Salvos Northern Beaches Door Knock division, Bronwyn Bishop will also attend, though CBD expects she will arrive by car.

Fireworks

The coming week will see some chairman and boards of directors facing the blowtorch. The Australian Shareholders' Association has issued a warning they are sharpening the knives to help out investors.

The ASA has said it will be voting against the MYOB remuneration report, which seems somewhat less transparent than last year. ''We note the foreshadowed plan for the coming year looks to be an improvement,'' the ASA's Alan Goldin said.

Given the news last Friday that the CEO of QBE, Pat Regan has bowed to shareholder pressure regarding the size of his pay packet by taking a 25 per cent hit to his bonus, the ASA may rethink its vow to vote against the QBE remuneration report.

''During the following week, we will attend the AMP and Caltex AGMs, where we will vote against the remuneration reports, and in the case of AMP's meeting, the two longer serving directors,'' the ASA has warned.

Betting crypto

Amid the proposed changes to the online betting sector by the Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, comes news that other sites are popping up with some using crypto currencies for payment.

Even Tom Waterhouse has emerged in twitter after an absence saying, ''cryptocurrency has provided a way for the 2.5 billion people that are unbanked to send funds across the globe in seconds. A game changer for online betting''.

But perhaps not for Neds, the $60 million cryptocoin offering launched by Gold Coast-based former pornographer Dean Shannon’s new bookmaking venture, which has caught the eye of the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.