Jan 2008 – Jan 2020 · 12 yrs · Hong Kong & Singapore

• I founded Aquis Search at the height of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and developed the business from its hub in Hong Kong into a regional and then global operation. Initially focusing on Legal & Compliance assignments, and then Risk Management and Finance & Accounting mandates, the business developed into a regional Corporate Governance & Controls functions specialist within its first three years. As Aquis became a recruitment partner of choice for Corporate Governance search in the Asia Pacific region I augmented the core business with Human Resources & Corporate Services, Investment Management, Sales & Marketing as well as Technology coverage.
• The businesses partnered with a global network of prestigious financial institutions, leading UK and US law firms and professional services firms, as well as numerous Fortune 500 multinationals. As CEO I touched every part of the business from initial concept to operating and maintaining established recruitment platforms in Beijing, Delhi, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. At its height the group employed 127 staff, from 9 different brands, across 8 different offices, in 5 different countries. By building support functions and recruitment sales teams in multiple locations the business was able to provide Executive Search, Search & Selection, Research & Advisory and Contract Payroll services to clients in the Commerce, Financial Services and Professional Services industries globally.
• In a short period of time the company outperformed the market becoming the largest Corporate Governance search firm in the Asia Pacific region by headcount and geographic footprint. My firm placed thousands of professionals with hundreds of clients, and in recognition of this success the firm won Recruitment Team of the Year in 2018 and “Best Growth Agency’ at the Asia Recruitment Awards 2019.

Jan 2006 – Jan 2008 · 2 yrs · Hong Kong

• Prior to starting my own search firm I was a Senior Consultant with Taylor Root (TR). TR is well known for its expertise in Legal & Compliance search and is part of a global network of five different brands under the SR Group, which is headquartered in London.
• As a Senior Consultant in-charge of building the Risk & Compliance business in the Asia Pacific region I partnered with the In-house Legal team in Hong Kong. In this role I developed a new desk focused on Compliance and Operational Risk roles within financial services in Hong Kong and Singapore. I was responsible for all origination and execution of business in Risk & Compliance with a particular focus on Advisory Compliance roles in Equity, Fixed Income, Investment Banking, Research and Control Room. I also covered all general compliance roles across Investment, Corporate and Private Banking, as well as Asset Management, Private Equity and Hedge Funds, with some Insurance coverage.
• By leveraging the firm’s global network and working closely with colleagues in Hong Kong, London and Sydney I was able to create a profitable desk within the first quarter of opening the business.

Jan 2005 – Jan 2006 · 1 yr · Hong Kong

• Global Sage is a boutique financial services executive search firm with offices in London, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong: ranked 1st Banking & Finance Headhunter in Non-Japan Asia and Japan by Asiamoney magazine in 2005 (and 1st in the Poll of Polls 2014).
• As a Senior Associate my main responsibility was to partner with the Managing Director responsible for Banking & Finance search to define recruiting needs and execute business in non-Japan Asia and Japan. This included supporting origination of business by producing marketing materials, pitching to clients, and executing assignments (target mandates were Managing Director level and above). My day-to-day responsibilities for the desk included maintaining the data-base, up-dating name lists, biographies and organisational charts, as well as giving daily market intelligence reports of people moves and reporting on poignant industry headlines, such new deal issuant.
• I helped to rebuild an under-performing Capital Markets & Corporate Finance desk making it one of the most profitable desks in the business in the year I joined.

Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 · 1 yr · Hong Kong

• I began my executive search career with Robertson Smart, now rebranded as Charterhouse, an Executive Search & Selection recruitment agency with businesses focused on Financial Services, Legal and Technology recruitment from offices in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Sydney. By producing high quality primary and secondary materials (such as name lists, biographies and organisational charts) I was able to develop rapidly during my time with the firm and I was promoted from Researcher to Head of Research, and subsequently Consultant to Senior Consultant. The roles included co-ordination of the research team, managing the origination and execution of assignments during the recruitment process, hiring researchers, conducting training and managing the data-base. As part of my role with the Financial Services team I covered Equity and Fixed income products in Asset Management, Private Banking and Investment Banking sectors in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney markets.
• As a Senior Consultant my responsibilities were for origination and execution of recruitment business in Equity Research, Sales & Trading, as well as Derivatives for non-Japan Asia. This included initial contact with new clients, preparing research and pitch materials, pitching for business, subsequent negotiation for terms of business and execution of resulting business. The mandates were predominantly exclusive contingency with some retained assignments.
• Over this time I made placements in Equity Research, Sales & Trading with regional and global banks as well as individually building an Equity Derivative & Convertible Bond book that was successfully marketed to new clients. When I left the business I was the highest fee earner in the Hong Kong office.

Jan 1998 – Jan 2004 · 6 yrs · Hong Kong SAR

• I began my career as a freelance teacher and trainer, and was employed by a number of different educational organisations from 1998 – 2004. During this period I worked primarily with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University who seconded me to various companies operating in a range of industry sectors. While working as a soft skills trainer with the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong I was approached to join Robertson Smart where I began my executive search career.
• School of Professional Education & Executive Development
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 1998 - 2004
• Conducted learning needs assessment and analysis of prospective client’s short and medium term goals for Corporate Business English training, Presentation Skills and Soft Skills coaching (individual and group settings).
• Design and delivery of in-company training courses for numerous organisations including Baker & McKenzie, the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and Securities & Futures Commission (SFC).
• Delivery of Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers of English (LPATE) courses for Chinese teachers of English, also acting as an Assessor for the Education & Manpower Beau completing more than 100 Classroom Language Assessments (CLA).
• Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA), Hong Kong, 2003 – 2004
• In conjunction with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) taught IELTS preparation course material to students who wished to enter the Australian education system.
• The University of Southern Queensland (Hong Kong Program), Hong Kong, 2001 – 2002
• Taught foundation courses including Australian History, Communication Processes, Studying at University and English for Academic Purposes to students enrolled at the university.
• Centre for English Teaching, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2000 – 2001
• Taught foundation courses including Introduction to Australia, Academic English and Business English to students enrolled at the university.