Signium Opens New Office in Sydney
August 12, 2024 – Executive search consortium Signium has opened a new office in Sydney, Australia. “This expansion marks a significant milestone for the company, enhancing its ability to provide bespoke services to clients in the region,” the consortium said. The Sydney office will be led by Stephen Lennard, a seasoned executive search professional and former Signium partner from 2006 to 2011. He rejoins the Signium network as the managing partner for Signium Australia, bringing his private firm, Lennard Partners, into the global group.
Lionel Teng, managing partner in Singapore and member of Signium’s Asia Pacific regional council, played a pivotal role in bringing Mr. Lennard back into the group. “Stephen’s return is a tremendous win for Signium,” he said. “His unique blend of experience and industry insight will not only strengthen our presence in Australia but also enhance our global capabilities. I’m confident that under his leadership, we will provide exceptional value to our clients.”
“Running an independent company has been a rewarding journey, but it often felt isolated,” Mr. Lennard said. “I’m eager to embrace the energy and collaboration that comes with being part of a global force again and I feel proud to align Lennard Partners with Signium. With my experience and industry connections within the local and international markets, I believe we can make a significant impact here.”
Mr. Lennard has built a reputation for providing comprehensive consulting and advisory services to boards, CEOs, and senior executive teams. Signium Australia will operate both nationally and internationally, collaborating with partner firms across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Their suite of services includes retained executive search, leadership consulting, board and executive remuneration advice, information and plan designs, and senior executive career transition services.
Mr. Lennard’s back ground includes local and international searches for chairs, non-executive directors, managing directors and division heads, chief financial officers, chief operating officers, chief information officers and directors of professional services, corporate affairs and general managers. His market sector knowledge spans industrial services, ports, manufacturing, retail, financial, construction, engineering, natural resources, government, education, and not-for-profit.
In discussing the current state of the executive search landscape in Australia, Mr. Lennard said: “I engage with 20-30 chairs, non-executive directors (NEDs), and CEOs each week. While the underlying economy has slowed, there are still strong fundamentals compared to last year. However, challenges such as rising interest rates and inflation are impacting confidence within many boardrooms.”
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“Retail and hospitality sectors are facing significant pressures, while industries like health, natural resources, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy remain robust,” he said. “Despite various economic challenges, I see opportunity in evolving board compositions, particularly with more women being appointed to leadership roles.”
Maintaining a Global Perspective
As managing partner of Signium Australia, Mr. Lennard will focus on the Australian market while maintaining a global perspective. “Our goal is to deliver exceptional results for our clients while helping organizations to cultivate future-ready, diverse teams at all levels of leadership,” he said.
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Signium has 38 offices in 30 countries serving clients in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions. The firm delivers talent acquisition and management solutions for global companies across industry sectors, including consumer goods, financial services, technology, industrial, life sciences, and professional services.
Related: Signium Adds Former HR Executive in Dublin, Ireland
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
