Heidrick & Struggles Adds Partner in Johannesburg

July 1, 2015 – Heidrick & Struggles has added Debbie Farnaby as a partner in its Johannesburg office and a member of the firm’s global technology & services practice. Ms. Farnaby’s expertise spans CIO and technology functions with extensive experience at the EXCO level, technology and strategy consulting. She has over 25 years of hands-on experience in the ICT, manufacturing and mining sectors in the operational, shared services, information technology and commercial environments.
She previously served as a director of start-up consulting firm Circle Components, providing strategic services including SAP resourcing and expertise, business and technology consulting, project management and project audit capabilities. Prior to that, Ms. Farnaby worked at the De Beers Group, serving as the group director for shared services where she was responsible for providing a range of shared services to the Group’s global operating entities, including ICT, financial, security, supply chain and facilities management. She joined De Beers Group as group director of information technology (CIO). Previously, she served at the global executive level for Sappi Limited.
“Debbie’s ability to apply technological knowledge to complex client situations will be extremely important across global markets,” said Allen Shardelow, partner in Charge of Heidrick & Struggles, Johannesburg.
Since 1972, Heidrick & Struggles has served the South African region, providing executive search services to local and international clients operating in South Africa and the rest of Africa. Allen Shardelow leads the firm in this region as partner in charge. The firm’s technology practice serves a number of prominent technology companies, as well as those at the forefront of cutting edge technologies. The firm’s dedicated practice focused on searches for professionals in big data & analytics, cloud, mobility, cyber security, digital marketing, hardware systems & semiconductor, and software & Internet.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media