Derwent Executive

our people

The leadership team comprises of the following Directors and Partners:

Ben Derwent

Managing Director

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.

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, Researchers, Consultants and business support employees to the firm.

Previously Ben was a senior member of the executive recruitment team at Morgan and Banks for eight years.

 

Andrew McEncroe

Partner, Sydney

Andrew joined Derwent Executive in 1999 and is the Partner responsible for the Sydney office. Andrew's personal search portfolio specialises in the recruitment of general management, finance (CFO and direct reports) and corporate development (strategy and M&A) executives across clients including major corporations and small to medium sized businesses, often in private equity investment scenarios. Andrew offers employers and executives deep market knowledge and an extensive network developed over more than 15 years consulting in the Sydney market. Prior to joining Derwent Executive Andrew worked for several years with an international recruitment company, originally as an accountant before moving into recruitment consulting.    

 

Dianne Wilson

Partner, mining services and Resources, Corporate Services, nsw and qld

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 in Mining Services, Resources and Financial Services. Dianne has an excellent track record of recruiting senior executives in business support functions including finance, strategy & corporate development, human resources, legal & company secretarial and Non-Executive Director. Dianne offers over fourteen years' recruitment experience and prior to her recruitment career was a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Angus Price

Partner, Banking and Finance Front Office, Sydney

Angus joined Derwent Executive in 1999 and was made Partner in 2005. Angus has a strong understanding of the Investment Banking, Private Equity, Property and Funds Management sectors, and combines these with excellent networks. He previously spent 10 years with a leading international real estate services firm working in their Advisory and Capital Transactions divisions in Hong Kong and Sydney.

 

Sebastian Cohen

Partner, Banking and Finance Front Office, Sydney

Sebastian joined the business in 2000 as a Principal Consultant and was promoted to Partner in 2005. Sebastian is responsible for managing the Financial Services Sales and Marketing Practice and has a strong track record in recruiting complex and varied executive search assignments with a particular focus on Product, Marketing and Distribution.

Sebastian commenced his career with Commonwealth Bank on a Graduate Rotation Program, following the completion of an Economics degree. He later joined BT Funds Management where he gained in depth domain and product knowledge across investment management which he draws upon today. He has over fourteen years’ recruitment experience including three years at Morgan & Banks prior to joining Derwent Executive. His industry expertise spans funds Management, Superannuation, Wealth Management, Insurance and broader Financial Services.

 

Damon Barlow

Partner, consumer sydney and melbourne

Commencing his executive recruitment career in 1999, Damon has specialised in recruiting executives across consumer markets for over 10 years. He has been based in both Australia and Asia and has performed numerous multiple country searches across the Asia Pacific markets from a base in Sydney and Singapore. Today, Damon specialises in recruiting C-level roles within the following functions - General Management, Senior Retail Operations, Sales and Marketing Management, Merchandise Management and Human Resources across the following sectors - Retail, Travel and Tourism, FMCG and Consumer Durables. Some of his key assignments are as follows; CEO Country Road, CEO Witchery, CEO Rebel Sport, CEO Gloria Jeans Coffees, CEO & Chairman Anthology, CEO Recreational Tourism Group.

 

Sally Langer

Partner, Perth

Sally Langer 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 in 2007 to establish a Perth office. 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.

 

Mike O'Sullivan

Partner, Perth

Mike joined Derwent Executive in 2008 and was promoted to Partner in 2010. From his base in Perth, Mike has over ten years experience in the recruitment sector across Western Australia and beyond, with a strong emphasis on the Resources, Utilities, Infrastructure and Heavy Construction sectors. He has had a wide breadth of exposure to executive role types across senior operational, technical, commercial and CEO/general management disciplines. An intimate understanding of the WA employment market facilitates Mike's access to an extensive network of executive talent and positions.

Mike is a valued career advisor and consultant to the Perth business community. Prior to joining Derwent Executive Mike established and managed a successful recruitment division within a global recruitment firm.

 

Julie Colvin

Partner, Perth

Julie is a Chartered Accountant who was one of the initial members to establish the Derwent Perth office in 2007 and was promoted to Partner in 2010. Julie commenced her career with PwC and after five years in commercial accounting/financial management positions in Perth and London, Julie joined Michael Page where she managed the Finance and Accounting Division. Julie has extensive recruitment experience across Western Australia in a variety of sectors including Mining and Resources, Utilities, Infrastructure and Commercial Services. She recruits the following job types; CFO, GM Human Resources, Head of M&A/Strategy, Tax, Corporate Services and Legal based roles within these sectors.  

 

Jason Foley

Partner, Melbourne

Jason has completed a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Marketing. After four years working in Investment Banking in London, Jason returned to Australia where he has forged a strong reputation in executive search specialising in the appointments of Chief Financial Officers, Heads of M&A/Strategy, Risk, Tax and General Management within the Financial Services, Mining & Resources and the Consumer markets of Australia's top 300 ASX Listed companies. Jason has over ten years experience working with both an international and an ASX listed executive recruitment firm in senior management roles. Jason joined Derwent Executive as the Melbourne Partner in early 2008 to focus on further building the Commerce/Industry practice in Melbourne.

 

Mathew Newman

Partner, Melbourne

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 fourteen 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, Chief Operating Officers, Operations Managers, Investor Relations, Human Resources and numerous specialist divisional and functional leadership roles. His 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 valued career advisor and consultant to the Australian business community and has access to an extensive network of executive talent and positions. Prior to joining Derwent Executive Mathew worked with a number of high profile executive search and global recruitment firms in Australia and the UK.

 

Rachel Ta

Partner, Hong Kong

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.