They are such a shy and retiring bunch at News Corp that none of its mastheads wanted to make a fuss by reporting the news that it recently acquired 20 per cent of the business set up by former Kevin Rudd staffer Lachlan Harris for $5.8 million.

The company also appointed the head of its Australian digital operations, Alisa Bowen, to the privately held company's board, according to filings with ASIC.

The two companies have not made any public announcements about the transaction in January, but reports in local News Corp papers on Monday hinted at a closer relationship with the launch of Switch's health insurance campaign on Monday.

"Sign up to our new campaign and see how combined buying power can get you a better deal," said one of the articles printed across News Ltd's main mastheads referring to the most recent hikes in private health insurance.

The articles were tagged with the disclosure "News Corp Australia and One Big Switch will earn a commission from people who accept any resulting offer".

Switch Off

Rupert's investment is certainly good news for other Big Switch investors.

News Corp was acquiring shares in January at $4.45 a pop.

That is a sizeable premium on Switch's $1.5 million buyback of shares before Christmas from co-founder Paul Hunyor at just under $3 each.

Not to worry, Hunyor's remaining shares are worth around $3 million based on Murdoch's buy-in price.

Hunyor has switched off from Switch to head tech start-up shop The Grid.

The various share transactions leaves Mark Carnegie as Switch's biggest shareholder with a 27 per cent stake.

Harris, who is also the brains behind the Budgy Smuggler brand and part of the Harris Farm family, is next with a 24 per cent stake, followed by News Corp.

Carnegie haul

Carnegie should be riding high after the success of the One Big Switch investment, and the impending nuptials of the radio interests – which he shares with adman John Singleton – with Fairfax Media this month.

It might help allay some of the disappointment of his failed activist tilt at Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson.

Last month, Carnegie and Perpetual Investments unwound the agreement governing their stakes in Brickworks which was designed to unravel the company's cross-investment in W. H. Soul Pattinson.

Cleaning up

Meanwhile, the Uberfication of every service imaginable continues apace with Sydney bar czars Julian Tobias and Adam Abrams lending their magic to cleaning service Whizz.

"Whizz: An uber fresh approach to cleaners," reads its new website for those who don't make the connection.

"Whizz is the leading platform for connecting individuals looking for home cleaning services with top-quality, pre-screened independent cleaners," says the blurb on Abram's Linkedin profile.

"They have no cleaning experience obviously," said Whizz CEO Mark Bernberg of the dynamic duo behind Sydney Harbour's floating bar, The Island.

Bernberg is counting on their ability to build and market a brand to help the service hit critical mass as it officially launches next month when the Apple and Android apps are expected to become available.

One lesson Whizz learned from overseas rivals was to start with a team of cleaners it had trained and qualified to make sure it wasn't torpedoed by bad service at the launch.

It will open to all-comers at a later date.

At your service

As our chief postie Ahmed Fahour explained the need for worse service, and higher prices, to combat the rising tide of losses from Australia Post's business, he was asked a few curly questions about potential cost cutting.

Especially in relation to its wages bill.

On top of Fahour's $4.6 million pay, he has 409 managers and executives earning more than $195,000, according to last year's annual report.

Fahour demonstrated exactly why he is paid the big bucks.

First he managed to waffle his way through an explanation of how 75 per cent of its business is commercial and highly successful, then cut off any follow up questions by saying there were a lot of journalists dialling in with questions to be answered.

He answered the only question that was raised on the dial in, and then wrapped up the press conference. Voila!

Harry birthday

Trying to find a real estate investment trust (REIT) manager this week could be tricky, with a swag of property talent doing the post results, tours of duty.

And some are doing it hard.

Having endured freezing temperatures in New York, Boston and Chicago, the heavyweights of Aussie REIT-land have now joined a large number of their international peers in Hollywood, Miami, for the annual Citi global property conference.

The collective thaw includes the senior management of Westfield spin-off Scentre Group, Charter Hall Group, Westfield (CBD isn't sure if Peter Lowy flew in on the private jet), Stockland, GPT Group, Federation Centres and its proposed merger partner, Novion and Mirvac.

But not everyone was partying in Miami.

Property legend Harry Triguboff was kicking up his heels at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney celebrating his 82nd birthday as the guest of honour on Tuesday night at the Our Big Kitchen, a charity that he and Meriton have supported for many years.

Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au