Corporate Ladder: your weekly guide to executive appointments
South Australia’s premier executive appointments column tracking the movements of those driving the state’s public and private sectors. Plus the latest executive recruitment opportunities.
Jenny Hall joins not-for-profit organisation UnitingSA as CEO in June. Image: Supplied.
KWP appoints inaugural COO
SA-based marketing agency KWP has named Natalie Morley as the company’s first Chief Operating Officer.
Morley has been with the creative studio for more than a decade, most recently as Managing Director of Media and Technology.
KWP said Morley would oversee operations across the company’s media, design, social media, advertising and technology divisions as part of the promotion.
Before landing a gig with KWP, the advertising and marketing professional worked across the Asia Pacific with global media and advertising companies Universal McCann Worldwide and DDB. She also sat on a number of global research and strategy working groups.
Outside of her role with KWP, Morley is a Tennis South Australia volunteer board director.
KWP CEO David O’Loughlin said Morley’s new position would allow the company to “deploy integrated, agile teams” to meet customers needs.
“Nat has been a fundamental part of the evolution of KWP over the last 5 years and particularly instrumental in the growth of our media and martech capabilities,” he said.
“Her leadership and keen eye for innovation will ensure that KWP keeps forging ahead in the business of building better relationships between our clients and their customers.”
SAGE Group CEO to lead the Control System Integrators Association
Global trade body the Control System Integrators Association has appointed Sage Group Managing Director and CEO Adrian Fahey as its Chair, following his role on the board for the past four years.
He replaces Luigi de Bernardini of Autoware in Italy.
Fahey has held senior roles with the South Australian-based industrial automation and digitalisation company for more than 22 years. Fahey also sits on number of boards, including the National Association of Women in Operations and Nukon, a SAGE Group subsidiary with a focus on data.
He said he was “honoured” to be able to “give back to the association”, which represents more than 500 members across 35 countries.
“The mission of the CSIA is to advance the industry of control system integration and we certainly understand first-hand the value that the association offers its members,” he said.
“The CSIA gave our business access to foundational systems and processes as we grew and a global best practice platform to benchmark against.”
Corporate Position: the latest executive employment opportunities
Established in 1994 by Managing Director Victor Said, the award-winning building company Rivergum Group is looking for a General Manager Homes to lead the Rivergum Homes Housing Division, which delivers in excess of 350 contract homes annually. Reporting directly to the CEO as a key member of the Senior Management Team, this role will play an active part in Rivergum decisions by contributing to the overall strategic and financial performance of the Homes business. Applications are encouraged from entrepreneurial senior managers with a track record of sales and general management success in a comparably competitive, fast-paced domain. A strong understanding of the commercial drivers of a construction business of this kind will be favourable.
The Australian Gas Infrastructure Group seeks to appoint a highly proficient and motivated Senior Executive Assistant to provide pivotal support to the Executive General Manager Corporate and Regulation (EGM). Key responsibilities will include providing high-level day to day management of the EGM’s demanding calendar, liaising with key internal and external stakeholders, coordinating Board and Committee paper submissions, and making a significant contribution to the development, implementation and maintenance of best practice administration systems, including high-level document management. Based in South Australia, this is a rare opportunity to provide vital executive support in an industry-leading national organisation.
Former Jetstar COO joins Adelaide Airport board
Adelaide Airport has announced former Jetstar COO Lisa Brock as a Director, replacing Alison Webster, who has moved to a position with Western Sydney Airport.
Brock has spent more than 20 years in senior executive roles within the aviation sector, including as COO for Jetstar, Qantas Freight CEO and recently Qantas Executive Manager of Commercial Airports and Procurement.
Between 2011 and 2013 she was also a board member for express freight delivery Star Track Express.
Adelaide Airport Ltd Chair Rob Chapman said Brock’s aviation freight knowledge would be of “particular benefit” to the company as it begins development of a new Airport East transport, freight and logistics hub.
SA architect begins national role
Tony Giannone has taken over as National President of the Australian Institute of Architects, following his appointment in July.
He has replaced Alice Hampson.
Giannone is Director of South Australian mid-sized multi-disciplinary architecture and interior design studio Tectvs. He is also Industry Professor with The University of Adelaide’s School of Architecture and Built Environment.
Throughout his time with the Institute, Giannone has had held a number of roles with the peak body, including as Awards Juror, Chapter Councillor and the South Australian State Chapter President.
Movements across housing and disability sectors
Not-for-profit organisation UnitingSA has announced Jenny Hall as its new CEO from June 28, taking over from Libby Craft who is set to retire after more than a decade at the helm.
Hall is currently the Executive Manager of Residential Services for aged care organisation Helping Hand.
She has also previously held senior executive roles with Medibank Home Support Services and mental health provider Neami National, and was GM of City Services for City of Playford for a short stint between 2018 and 2019.
UnitingSA Chair Gael Fraser said Hall would lead the housing, aged care and community services provider’s team of more than 1000 staff and volunteers.
“This appointment marks an exciting new chapter for UnitingSA and the Board is looking forward to working with Ms Hall to build on our strong history supporting communities for over 100 years,” Fraser said.
“Ms Hall’s depth of experience across health, aged care and community services will be invaluable, as we continue to evolve in response to major changes in our sector.
“After many years of stable leadership, we are incredibly fortunate to have found someone with the right experience and values to lead us into the future as we respond to the needs of communities, families and individuals.”
Meanwhile, South Australian disability service provider Cara has named Lorraine Johnston as its Executive Manager of Employee Experience and Workforce Development.
She replaces Tim Wilson who has moved to Bedford for a role as Executive Manager People, Communications, Strategy and Quality.
Johnston has worked across commercial, community services, health and regulatory sectors, with recent senior experience at the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, Pulteney Grammar School, Flinders Medical Centre and disability organisation Minda Incorporated.
“Now, more than ever, the disability sector needs an influx of skilled, passionate and professional staff so that people with disability can live fulfilling lives with choice and control,” she said.
“I am looking forward to growing Cara’s staff so that our customers can rely on excellent support workers, and I am also excited for more people to discover how rewarding a career in the disability sector can be.
“Cara’s reputation as a provider of choice and an employer of choice stands us in good stead to increase our work with children and adults with disability around South Australia.”
Property shifts
Former JLL SA Managing Director Jamie Guerra has joined the Adelaide-arm of Leedwell Property as a director and equity partner.
The property expert has spent more than two decades in South Australia’s real estate sector, including as managing director for global real estate firm JLL and director of global commercial firm CBRE South Australia.
Leedwell Property said Guerra had worked across a number of large real estate transactions, including the $400m mixed development at the Central Market Arcade Redevelopment for Adelaide City Council.
“I was attracted to Leedwell’s client centric-approach and deep relationships the principals have built around focusing on the things that matter to clients,” he said.
“I look forward to bringing my investment experience to a successful business, complementing the leasing and advisory expertise the Leedwell team are known for.”
He joins as a shareholder alongside founding partners John Savva, Andrew Zammit and Steve Smith, and Managing Partner for Leedwell Property Victoria Chris Parry.
