Ian Hackett – Managing Director

03 9935 5274

ihackett@deanling.com.au

Ian is the Managing Director of Dean & Ling Executive and delivers his recruitment advice in a refreshingly direct and candid manner. He has over 15 years experience recruiting senior leadership positions within the accounting discipline in commercial and financial services organisations, and 10 years recruiting senior funds management professionals.

Recent accounting appointments include CFO, Executive General Manager – Commercial, Group Treasurer, Head of Tax, Head of Internal Audit and Group Strategy Analyst. Within the funds management sector Ian has recruited across a range of front, middle and back office roles including: Equity and Fixed Interest Portfolio Managers, Head of Product Development, Head of Performance Analytics, Head of Compliance, Institutional Business Development, Head of Retail and Head of Regional Operations.

Sarah Ling

03 9935 5228

sling@deanling.com.au

Sarah is a founding Director of Dean & Ling Executive. Commencing her recruitment career early in 1999, Sarah has extensive legal recruitment experience in completing national executive search processes for the recruitment of partners, teams and senior lawyers. Her strong reputation is firmly established in this field. Sarah further specialises in general management roles with a legal focus as well as senior corporate lawyer roles within industry.  

Sarah has a strong commitment to balancing the needs of her clients while maintaining a high degree of candidate care. Sarah brings with her a strong network of candidates within the legal market and an excellent reputation for delivering comprehensive and timely solutions for her clients.

Sarah holds combined Arts/Law degrees from Monash University.

Paul Gerrard

03 9935 5273

pgerrard@deanling.com.au

Paul has experienced first-hand the demands and challenges of the funds management and banking environments having held Investment Analyst positions in London and Melbourne.

He commenced his recruitment career in 1998 and has extensive experience in advising senior leadership teams within banking and funds management. Senior appointments include Chief Operating Officer, Head of Risk, General Manager Sales, Senior Investment Adviser, Director Corporate Finance, CIO, Portfolio Manager Equities/Fixed Interest, Head of Compliance, Head of Client Relationships, Head of Product Development and Head of Performance Analytics.

Paul holds an Economics & Finance degree from the University of London and an MBA from the University of Melbourne.

Daniel Smith

03 9935 5272

dsmith@deanling.com.au

Daniel is a specialist accounting recruiter with eight years experience gained within major international recruitment companies and boutique search firms in Australia and the UK. Daniel has extensive experience in delivering retained advertised selection assignments as well as interim executive positions.

Daniel takes a long term view to his work and develops a deep understanding of client needs and candidate expectations.

Daniel holds a BA (Hons) in Politics and European Studies from Durham University in the UK.

Salli Robinson – Operations Manager

03 9935 5269

srobinson@deanling.com.au

Salli has extensive experience in operations, resource management as well as recruitment.

Her role involves the direction, administration, organisation, supervision and coordination of Dean & Ling Executive’s operations, ensuring the smooth and effective operation of all core business functions.

Salli holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Japanese Business.

Richard Pooley

02 9234 1808

rpooley@deanling.com.au

Richard is responsible for executing legal practice group and senior lawyer searches in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Underpinning Richard’s approach is a commitment to a collaborative and seamless relationship with clients, a structured methodology and a deep understanding of the firm’s market proposition.

Richard has over a decade of experience in professional recruitment in both Australia and the UK and his achievements include an extensive number of domestic and international search engagements for business critical positions.

Richard is qualified in business and is experienced in behavioural interview techniques, all aspects of career counselling and executive remuneration packaging. He is well equipped to provide expert advice to executive business leaders and is a senior recruiter who has a broad network across the market and search capabilities extending beyond interstate boundaries, and internationally.

Andre Waitsman

02 9234 1803

awaitsman@deanling.com.au

Andre is a specialist recruitment consultant within the financial services sector in Sydney.  His expertise includes securing roles for senior executives in the areas of accounting, commercial management, program/project management, strategy, risk & compliance, and tax. With over 11 years of recruitment experience, Andre has developed a reputation as a trusted advisor with a focus on quality processes that achieve outstanding outcomes. In 2007-2008, Andre’s outstanding performance and reputation as a leader in his field culminated in a national recruitment award. 

Andre’s clients include prominent financial services organisations, top-tier investments banks and large publicly listed corporations.

Vivien Choong

02 9234 1807

vchoong@deanling.com.au

Vivien specialises in the recruitment of senior accounting professionals for the commerce and industry sectors in Sydney.

She has over 13 years of recruitment experience in both multinational and ASX listed recruitment companies and holds a CA qualification. Having held senior accounting positions herself, Vivien has a thorough understanding of technical accounting requirements and applies a proactive and considered approach.

Vivien’s focus is on the recruitment of senior accounting executives in a range of industries including manufacturing, logistics, retail, distribution, pharmaceutical, FMCG, agriculture, property and construction.

Mark Phillips – Managing Director – Qld

07 3211 1018

mphillips@deanling.com.au

Mark is Dean & Ling Executive’s Managing Director – Qld, and one of Brisbane’s most respected search consultants. Operating within his niche markets for 16 years, Mark is renowned for his tenacious, disciplined and ethical approach to search and strategic talent sourcing.

Having successfully built businesses organically and through acquisition in both public and private environments, Mark’s commercial experience is highly valued when assessing, building and recruiting talent for his clients. His commitment to quality, value and honesty when dealing with his stakeholders is steadfast whilst he is highly aware of the commercial and competitive markets that his stakeholders operate in, as well as the need for efficiency and transparency. Mark is capable of producing tangible results for his clients, talent management solutions for his candidates, and sound, pragmatic advice for most that come into contact with him.

Examples of completed assignments include:
CEO – publicly listed financial services organisation, CEO – energy corporation, CFO – publicly listed property group, Deputy Director General – State Government, General Manager – FMCG multi-national, State Manager – industrial company, COO – media group, Executive Director Shared Services – manufacturing, Financial Controller – professional services firm, Project Manager – health company, Director Strategy – transport industry.

Mark holds a BA (Honours) – International Management.

James McBeath

03 9935 5230

jmcbeath@deanling.com.au

James’ recruitment experience spans 19 years. During this time he has worked for three publicly listed, international firms and he has also managed his own recruitment business for several years. James has worked with a broad range of employers in the SME and industrial and consumer markets and he has extensive experience in recruiting for substantial employers undergoing significant transformational change.

James has built a strong reputation in the middle management and executive segments of the Accounting & Finance profession and has successfully executed advertised and search assignments in Financial, Management & Statutory Reporting; Business Analysis & Planning; Commercial Management and Financial Control; Strategy & Corporate Development; Investor Relations; Internal Audit, Compliance & Risk Management and CFO - level appointments.

James has extensive experience in behavioural based interviewing and competency based & targeted selection. In addition to his recruitment consulting experience James has also held management and leadership roles in client relationship management and business development.

Chris McWilliam

07 3211 1018

cmcwilliam@deanling.com.au

Chris is an accomplished executive search and selection professional, whose experience has been gained over a broad business and recruitment career spanning over 17 years in Australia and Asia. This exposure recently included the leadership and development of an international listed recruitment company where he was critically involved in the start up and growth both locally and in foreign markets.

Chris’ experience has seen him advising and recruiting CEO’s, COO’s, CFO's, GM’s and leaders within the commercial business market. He has a wealth of expertise in consulting to senior leadership teams with respect to executive appointments on both a permanent and interim basis.

At Dean & Ling Executive, Chris will specialise in the development of senior professionals across the Brisbane market through his direct and honest approach. This approach will enable Chris to become a valued business partner and advisor to both clients and candidates.

Examples of roles successfully recruited by Chris include: CEO - private telecommunications equipment manufacturer, CFO – publicly listed global automotive group, CEO – global entertainment company, GM Asia Pacific – FMCG multi-national, COO – publicly listed media group, GM Finance - international software company.