The Insight Group Recruits CIO for the Royal Children’s Hospital

February 12, 2020 – The chief information officer is considered one of the most strategic roles in any organization. Still, head-hunting within the function remains challenging, as skilled C-suite IT professionals are among the toughest to find. Recently, Sydney-headquartered executive search firm the Insight Group placed Michelle Rennie as the new CIO of the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Ms. Rennie is a senior digital leader with over 15 years of IT management experience across large and complex matrix organizations. She has a proven track record of transforming critical teaching and learning processes into high quality online and mobile services. Previously, Ms. Rennie was director of technology, learning, teaching and research at RMIT University. Before that, she was director of program delivery and client projects at Education Services Australia.

The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne is one of the world’s leading pediatric hospitals, providing specialist healthcare to thousands of children in Victoria, Australia and internationally. The hospital is the designated statewide major trauma center for pediatrics in Victoria and a Nationally Funded Centre for cardiac and liver transplantation. Its campus partners are the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne Department of Pediatrics, which are based onsite at the hospital

Veteran Recruiters

The Insight Group was established in 1994 by Malcolm Duncan and Peter Nisbit. Mr. Duncan worked principally in the areas of government, professional services, non-profit and with leading industrial companies. He also works with local and global venture capital groups. His work has involved identifying senior executives to run start-up businesses and to provide assessment of teams and organizational reviews in relation to merger and acquisition activities. Mr. Duncan also undertakes independent management assessment of board members and senior executive teams.

Mr. Nisbit has over 25 years executive search experience. He has depth of experience assisting clients both within Australia as well as international markets. This expertise covers a wide range of industries including professional services, manufacturing, infrastructure, health, financial services and outsourcing. Mr. Nisbit has made numerous C-suite appointments across these sectors as well as other highly specialized roles. A key focus of his consulting activity also involves working with family and private businesses.

“The personal touch makes us different,” said Mr. Duncan. “Our clients have access to the combined brainpower of people like them – people who know how to run a business, and how much hard work and sheer persistence it takes to succeed.”

“Our goal is simple: It is to add significant value to our clients business through the appointment of outstanding people,” said Mr. Nisbit.

CIO Recruiting

It only makes sense that CIO hiring and recruiting information technology teams are on the rise. Nearly a quarter (22 percent) of U.S. CIOs plan to expand their IT teams, according to the Robert Half Technology “IT Hiring Forecast Trend Report.” It represents a three-point rise from the beginning of last year and an eight percentage-point jump from one year ago.

In recent months, a number of organizations have turned to executive search firms to help them find top flight CIOs. Here are a few of the top assignments tracked by Hunt Scanlon Media:

New Zealand executive search firm Hobson Leavy recruited Mark Corboy as the new chief information officer for Altus. Mr. Corboy has extensive experience leading significant technology initiatives within a manufacturing environment both locally and globally. He joined Altus from Fisher & Paykel Appliances where he is currently acting general manager digital.

Rosenzweig & Company placed former Just Energy executive Ash Rajendra as CIO of the Supreme Cannabis Company, where he will focus on ensuring the organization is well prepared to execute on its next phase of growth. Partner Larry Chan led the assignment. Mr. Rajendra is an experienced information technology and business leader who has a deep understanding of vertically integrated products, including operating within a regulated environment.

Scottsdale, AZ-based TillmanPartners recruited Bill Waszak as CIO for NASDAQ-traded American Woodmark in Winchester, VA. “American Woodmark is a well-established industry leader with a strong company culture and a commitment to invest in technology and drive continued innovation in the business,” said Rob Tillman, CEO, who handled the search.

Chicago-headquartered PearlCare Search Group placed Melvin Masula as CIO of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Geoff Zodda, chief solutions officer, IT search, led the assignment for PearlCare. Mr. Masula has 28 years of professional service in the IT industry. Previously, he was director of IT at WellLife Network.