Derwent Executive

Murray Bleach
Murray Bleach has over 30 years experience in the finance industry. Murray originally worked as a Chartered Accountant for KPMG Peat Marwick in Sydney and Dallas, Texas. His move into financial services came in 1987, when he joined Bankers Trust Australia. Murray joined Macquarie Group as part of Macquarie's acquisition of Bankers Trust Australia and moved to the U.S. in 1999 for eight years. During this time he built the infrastructure business from a small team of six to a team of more than 140 executives. In July 2004, Murray was appointed Head of North America and Director and Co-CEO of Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc and President of Macquarie Holdings (USA) Inc. During this period Murray acted as Chairman or Director on over 60 Macquarie-entity boards. Murray retired from Macquarie in December 2009. Murray is Chair of the IFM Board Investment Committee and is a non-executive director of Eraring Energy, Currently sitting on its Audit and Risk, Safety and Compensation committees. He is also a non-executive director for internet start-up company Zanbato, a web-based listing service and bulletin board for infrastructure and alternative assets. Murray joined the board of Suicide Prevention Australia in September 2011.

Angus Taylor
Previously a Partner at McKinsey and Company (a global management consulting firm) Angus joined Port Jackson Partners (an Australian based firm) as a Director in 2002. Angus has extensive experience working with senior executives and boards to shape their strategic agenda, and to implement that agenda. He works across a range of sectors, including resources, industrials, service companies, agriculture and the public sector. Much of his work in recent years has focused on helping to facilitate growth strategies through a combination of transactions, organic growth and organisational redesign. As a result he has worked on a number of the highest profile Australian corporate transactions and projects in recent years. In the course of his work, he has helped his clients deal with many of the most pressing issues they face, including how to respond to the rapid growth of the developing world, how to think about emerging regulation in carbon and water and how to respond to fast evolving markets for capital and talent. Outside of his consulting work, Angus has interests in a number of companies, in agriculture and professional services. He sits on the Council and is the Chairman of the Business Committee of St Andrew's College at the University of Sydney. He regularly teaches executive education courses in strategy and strategy implementation for a range of Universities, including UNSW and Duke University. To stay fit, he trains for and competes regularly in triathlons and running events, including representing Australia for his age group at the triathlon World Championships in 2009. He is married to Louise, a barrister, and they have four children. Angus has a MPhil in Economics (Rhodes Scholar), Oxford University and has degrees in Economics and Law, Sydney University (University Medal in Economics).

David Jones

David is Executive Director of Better Place Australia, an electric car infrastructure and services company, which he joined in 2011. Prior to this, he spent 17 years in the private equity industry, at CHAMP Private Equity (Managing Director), UBS Capital (Country Head) and Macquarie Direct Investment (Division Director).  In 2007 he was Chairman of the Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association.  He started his career at McKinsey & Company, and was General Manager of Butterfields Cheese Factors, part of the King Island Dairies Group.  David holds a BE (First Class Hons) from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  He is a Director of the National Museum of Australia, Global Sources Ltd. (NASDAQ), EMR Capital, and EC Global.

Ben Derwent
As Managing Director, Ben leads the strategy and overall management of the Company. Ben has a hands-on focus, playing a key role in our client acquisition, relationship management and retention processes. He also focuses on our board selection practice and private equity relationships. Ben guides the overall strategy for the company and is a key driver of our culture and philosophy. As a result of Ben's vision, stewardship, strategic business development and long term client relationship management skills we have achieved brand recognition and a reputation for consistent delivery that attracts high quality candidates, clients, research staff and consultants to the firm.

Andrew McEncroe
Andrew joined Derwent Executive in 1999 and has been an equity partner since 2005. Throughout his career at Derwent Executive Andrew has particularly developed the General Management, Corporate Services, Corporate Development (M&A and Strategy) and Management Consulting / Professional Services practices. Andrew is responsible for the Sydney and Brisbane offices with specialist practices providing solutions to corporations, financial services institutions, professional services firms, the public sector and middle market organisations. We are renowned for our engagement with the private equity and SME sectors where we are expertise in recruiting executives, their key direct reports and board members for portfolio businesses. A notable point of difference is our track record in solving our clients’ complex, hard-to-fill or sensitive recruitment needs.

Damon Barlow
Damon has specialised in recruiting senior executives across consumer markets for over 15 years from a base in Australia and Asia. He has performed numerous C-Level searches across the Asia Pacific markets across the following functions - general management, retail operations and merchandise, sales and marketing management and human resources across the following sectors - retail, FMCG, consumer durables and travel and tourism. Some of the key assignments Damon has recruited in Australia most recently are as follows; CEO Country Road, CEO Witchery, CEO Rebel Sport, CEO Pretty Girl, CEO Gloria Jeans Coffees, CEO & Chairman Anthology - The Travellers Collection, CEO Recreational Tourism Group, Marketing Director Asia Pacific Diageo, Marketing Director and Sales Director Nutricia, Marketing Director Kitchens of Sara Lee.

Dianne Williams
Dianne joined Derwent Executive in 1998 as one of the initial members of the firm and progressed to Partner in 2005. Since commencing, Dianne has been instrumental in establishing the Corporate Services practice and now leads the practice for Resources and Mining Services for NSW and QLD. Dianne has an excellent track record of recruiting senior executives in corporate office functions including COO, general management, finance, commercial management/procurement, HSE, HR, risk, investor relations, sales & marketing and legal. Dianne’s intimate understanding of the mining services market in conjunction with her colleagues in Perth and Melbourne facilitates access to an extensive network of executive talent within Australia and offshore.

Dianne offers over fifteen years' recruitment experience and prior to her recruitment career was a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Jason Foley
Jason has been an equity Partner at Derwent Executive since 2007 where he runs the Melbourne office. Jason has forged a strong reputation in executive search working with many of Australia's top 300 ASX listed companies, specialising in the appointments of NED’s, CEO’s, CFO's, Heads of M&A/Strategy, Risk, Tax, Human Resources, Directors and General Management.
Jason is highly regarded by many leading Private Equity firms appointing their executive teams across their portfolio companies. In addition Jason has worked closely with companies in banking / financial services, mining & resources and consumer markets. Jason demonstrates over 15 years executive search experience working in the Australasian market. Jason takes a candid and pragmatic approach to providing consultative advice to both candidates and clients.

Mathew Newman
Mathew joined Derwent Executive in 2008 and was promoted to Partner in 2011. He is a highly experienced executive search and recruitment professional with over fifteen years experience in senior appointments within the Australian, United Kingdom and South East Asian regions. His experience is predominantly in executive level and leadership assignments. Recent appointments include Chief Executives, Strategy, Group Merchandise Managers, Heads of Finance, Sales Directors, Chief Operating Officers, Investor Relations, Human Resources and numerous specialist divisional and functional leadership roles. His broad industry experience includes: Retail & Wholesale Distribution, Industrial, Manufacturing, Energy & Resources, Logistics, Professional Services and Health sectors. In recent years his focus has been increasingly on appointments of senior executives within Private Equity investee companies.Mathew is a highly regarded career advisor and consultant to the Australian business community and has access to a longstanding and deep network of executive talent. Prior to joining Derwent Executive Mathew worked with a number of high profile executive search and global recruitment firms in Australia and the UK.

Aaron Mathieson
A qualified Lawyer, holding law and commerce degrees, Aaron has 12 years’ experience specialising in corporate counsel and senior lawyer search at all levels for corporates and law firms. More recently, Aaron has focused on strategic search for key leadership roles, including managing partners, practice heads, company secretaries and general counsel. Aaron has also been involved in the facilitation of national practice mergers. Given his area of specialisation, Aaron has developed an extensive and intimate knowledge of the legal market and built a strong network of lawyers nationally. He is well acquainted with the individuals at partner and general counsel level throughout Australia. Aaron works closely on strategic level with his clients to provide timely and practical recruitment solutions. Aaron commenced as a Partner with Derwent Executive in 2012.

Mike O'Sullivan
Mike has over 11 years experience in the recruitment sector, primarily within Western Australia. Mike has had a wide breadth of exposure to executive role types extending to CEO, CFO, COO and related senior executive appointments. Mike’s reputation for interpreting complex, mission critical job briefs has led to the establishment of particular expertise within resources, utilities, infrastructure and heavy construction. Prior to joining Derwent Executive, Mike was jointly responsible for the establishment of Michael Page in Perth - an international recruitment business. Mike is the National Lead of our Resources & Mining Practice and is also a Perth representative of our Board practice.

Sally Langer
Sally is a Chartered Accountant who began her career with Arthur Andersen. Sally joined Michael Page in 1998 and was promoted to State Manager for Western Australia in 2000. She was also appointed to their Australian Board. She joined Derwent Executive to establish a Perth office in 2007. Sally has extensive experience in recruiting Non Executive and Executive positions in a variety of sectors including Mining and Resources, Oil and Gas and Commercial Services.

Julie Colvin
Julie is a Chartered Accountant and a founding member and Partner of Derwent Executive in Perth. Julie commenced her career with PwC subsequently working in senior finance roles in London and Perth, before joining Michael Page where she lead the Perth Finance and Accounting Division. Julie has extensive recruitment experience across Western Australia in a variety of sectors including Mining and Resources, Utilities, infrastructure, Oil and Gas and Commercial Services and leads the Perth Practices’ general corporate recruitment including CFO, GM Human Resources, Head of M&A/Strategy, Tax, Corporate Services and Legal based roles within the corporate services functions.

Rachel Ta
Rachel joined Derwent Executive in 2007 as a Partner focussing on establishing the Hong Kong office and further growing the business in mainland China. Her extensive experience in recruiting senior management positions in a variety of sectors including manufacturing, retail, and commercial services, has been invaluable to both clients and candidates in the region, particularly as the recruitment industry remains in its infancy in China. Her career history includes several years with Michael Page as a Manager where she was responsible for running and developing the CFO practice in Hong Kong and China. Prior to this Rachel earned a Bachelor of International Commerce from University of Paris before working her way up to a senior consultant position within Supply Chain Management.

Winnie Wan
Winnie joined Derwent Executive in 2008 to set up the supply chain practice for the Greater China region , and was promoted to Partner in 2011. Her industry specialities include, softline & hardline sourcing, retail & wholesale distribution, manufacturing, chemical, logistic as well as professional services sector. Winnie has a dedicated sourcing and retail recruitment team that focuses on luxury and life style products.
Winnie is an experienced in-house Human Resources professional. She has worked in a number of world-class organizations with instantly recognisable brands including Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Adidas AG, and Standard Chartered Bank PLC. She has been on the front line working with business units management teams in identifying and recruiting senior management positions and building up leadership teams for these organizations.

Dorraine Tay
Dorraine heads up the Human Resources and Finance practice for the Hong Kong office. She has a proven track record in placing senior HR and Finance professionals into Financial Services, Retail, Sourcing, Pharmaceutical, Industrial and FMCG sectors. Prior to this, Dorraine was a Managing Consultant with Hudson Global Resources in Hong Kong where she specialised in the recruitment of mid to senior level Accounting/Finance roles. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Monash University, Australia and is a qualified accountant having trained in KPMG, both in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Dorraine speaks fluent English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Malay

Nicole Lui
Nicole leads the IT&T / Sales & Marketing practice where she leverages her extensive knowledge and expertise within this sector. Nicole focuses on servicing the IT&T / Sales & Marketing sectors in Hong Kong and the China region. Previously, Nicole worked at Robert Walters where she was an Associate Director and spent 6 years recruiting within the IT&T sector. Nicole completed an MBA in Business in 2008.

Jasmine Qui
Jasmine joined Derwent Executive in December 2011 as Managing Partner of Derwent Executives Beijing & China operations and specialises in recruiting director level roles across a range of sectors. Prior to joining Derwent Executive Jasmine, was the Office Leader of Bó Lè Beijing having joined there in 2002. Jasmine gained her experiences in recruitment, human resources and finance in Australia and Hong Kong, before coming back to China (her home country). She worked for State Street Bank in Sydney and Michael Page in Hong Kong. Jasmine is recognised by her clients for her sound market knowledge and advice as well as her resourcefulness in seeking creative solutions to complex search assignments. She holds a Master of Commerce degree in Banking from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Economics degree in Accounting from Macquarie University Australia. She speaks fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Georgie Chong
Georgie Chong is the Lead Partner for Derwent Executive, Shanghai. Georgie brings 15 years of experience in executive recruitment, predominantly with Hudson. Georgie was based in Singapore from 1998 and Shanghai from 2006 to 2010, before returning to lead Hudson Singapore. Her track record includes building startups and expanding practice groups in Industrial, Life Sciences, Banking, Human Resources and the Legal sectors. Georgie’s mandate at Derwent Executive is to grow and develop the Shanghai business. She will capitalise on her strong reputation of understanding both client and candidate requirements, resulting in candidates progressively advancing their careers within their organisations and clients entrusting her with confidential and senior searches. Prior to recruitment, Georgie was First Vice President of a derivatives exchange, Director of an oil brokerage firm and a Journalist with Telerate, a Dow Jones Company.

Russell Yeomans
Russell is the Managing Director of Derwent Yeomans Executive, JLT the MENA arm of Derwent Executive. As functional leadership and search experts (COO and direct reports to CEO including CFO, HR, Sales and general/operations management), the MENA platform will develop diverse industry coverage with a deep spike in the Private Equity and Sovereign Wealth investee settings. Russell moved to Dubai with Reed in 2010 responsible for their International Operations (Europe MENA and Asia Pacific) and in that time he helped Reed organically grow the business by 230% over a 4 year period, set up 4 new countries and become a genuine employer of choice in the senior search and selection global market.