Sheffield Haworth Appoints Chairperson and Country Head, India
February 23, 2026 – Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has appointed Monica Agrawal as chairperson and country head, India. She is responsible for leading Sheffield Haworth’s India business, deepening client partnerships, and driving strategic growth in one of the world’s most dynamic economies. “We are delighted to welcome Monica to Sheffield Haworth,” said Alex Cormack, CEO of Sheffield Haworth. “India is a market of enormous opportunity and strategic importance, and Monica’s appointment reflects our commitment to growing our presence and capabilities in the region. Her exceptional track record, industry insight, and client relationships will make her an invaluable leader for our business in India and globally.”
Ms. Agrawal joins Sheffield Haworth from Korn Ferry, where she spent the past 13 years, most recently serving as head of financial services and head of board services, India. She is widely recognized as one of the most respected executive search and leadership consultants in the region, with deep relationships across chairs, chief executives, and CHROs. Her client base has included leading Indian and multinational banks, NBFCs, fintechs, global capability centers, private equity firms, asset managers, insurance companies, and Indian Conglomerates.
Prior to her career in executive search, Ms. Agrawal held senior roles in the financial services industry, including director of strategic initiatives and business development at Aviva, vice president of strategic alliances at Mastercard, and regional sales head for personal banking in Northern India at HSBC.
India today is one of the fastest-growing and most influential markets globally, on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by the end of the decade. With a rapidly expanding financial services sector, an increasingly globalized private equity market, and a vibrant ecosystem of fintechs, global capability centers, and multinational corporations, the demand for world-class leadership talent has never been greater. “Sheffield Haworth’s investment in the region reflects both this opportunity and the firm’s commitment to supporting clients in India and internationally with leadership and transformational change solutions,” the firm said.
“I am excited to join Sheffield Haworth at such a pivotal moment in the firm’s journey. India’s leadership and talent market is dynamic, diverse, and evolving rapidly,” said Ms. Agrawal. “I look forward to building on Sheffield Haworth’s strong foundation in the region and partnering with clients to deliver impactful leadership solutions that support their growth and transformation ambitions.”
Related: Sheffield Haworth Appoints Head of Financial Services and PE Practice in India
Sheffield Haworth, founded in 1993, is a global executive search, talent advisory, and interim consulting firm. The organization partners with clients around the world to provide tailored solutions for their business and talent needs at the senior management level. The firm has 10 offices throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. It serves clients in the financial services, business and professional services, and technology industries.
Recent Acquisition
Sheffield Haworth recently acquired Tony O’Leary’s executive search business, O’Leary and Partners, as part of the firm’s continued investment in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As part of this acquisition, Mr. O’Leary recently joined Sheffield Haworth to lead and expand the firm’s industrials and board practice across Australia and beyond. “We are delighted to welcome Tony to the firm,” said Mr. Cormack. “His extensive experience, strong relationships, and exceptional track record in leadership advisory across Australia make him a significant addition to our team at Sheffield Haworth. This acquisition showcases our commitment to growing our presence in the region and delivering world-class advisory and consultancy services to our clients.”
Mr. O’Leary brings over 25 years of executive search expertise across a broad range of industry sectors, including global financial services, board & CEO, professional services, industrial and consumer markets, education, non-profit and charities. His track record spans senior leadership appointments for some of Australia’s most prominent organizations in both the public and private sectors.
Prior to starting his own firm, Mr. O’Leary served as a partner at Heidrick & Struggles in Australia. Over his career, he has advised boards, chairs, and CEOs on leadership succession and talent strategy, and has successfully appointed many of the country’s leading managing directors, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, and other senior executives across the management suite. Mr. O’Leary also brings deep expertise in board chair and non-executive director search, further strengthening Sheffield Haworth’s capability in this critical area.
Related: Sheffield Haworth Partners with Winpe ProClub Mentorship Program
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
