Retained executive search for Chief Data Officers and senior data leaders across Sydney and Australia.
Executive Search
Chief Data Officer search.
We scope every search around how mature the data foundation is, how far the role leans toward governance or toward value creation, and what the business expects the data function to deliver commercially.
The role
Which data leader the business needs
A regulated enterprise cleaning up its data ahead of an exit and a scaleup trying to make money from its data need almost opposite people, though both may advertise for a Chief Data Officer. The abbreviation is also shared with the Chief Digital Officer, who owns channels and customer experience rather than data, so we settle with you which leader the business needs before anything else, and each of the four below suits a different situation.
The Data Custodian
For regulated enterprises, financial services, and businesses cleaning up before an IPO or an exit. Owns governance, quality, privacy and a single trusted source of truth, which is the work that has to come first where the estate is regulated or immature.
The Value Creator
For scaleups and PE-backed businesses where data is meant to make money. Built around analytics, machine learning and customer insight, measured on the revenue and decisions the data drives, and dependent on a governance foundation that is already sound.
The Connector
For ASX-listed transformation and larger scaleups, where the barrier is adoption rather than capability. Bridges the executive team and the technical teams, and embeds analytics and AI into products and everyday decisions.
The Data and AI Leader
For businesses running AI transformation at scale. Brings data, analytics and AI under one strategy with responsible governance, and over-reaches where the data foundations are not yet in place.
Our approach
What we agree before the search goes to market
Where the role sits between defence and offence depends on the regulation, the data maturity and the commercial thesis rather than on the title, and the brief has to say which. Five things get pinned down before we approach anyone:
- Data or digital. Whether the role owns data as an asset, or channels and customer experience.
- Defence or offence. How much of the job is governance, quality and compliance, and how much is analytics and monetisation.
- Data maturity. The platform, the governance and the data quality the leader inherits.
- AI ambition. Whether AI sits with this role, alongside it or with a separate leader.
- Time to outcome. The timeline the board or investors are working to.
Where the business is regulated, AI governance is becoming a significant part of the data leader’s remit, and we cover it in the brief.
Assessment
How we assess data leaders
What we test is evidence on both sides of the line: the governance and data quality work that made data trustworthy, and the decisions and revenue the data then drove, weighed against the balance the role needs. We also separate data leaders who have built and run a function from profiles that have been rebranded into data and AI, and the leaders who hold a seat at executive level can put the data function’s work into commercial terms for a CFO or a CEO.
Track record
Data leadership appointments
Our data leadership appointments include:
- A Chief Data and AI Officer for an ASX-listed wholesale distributor, alongside five other senior hires across its technology function
- A Head of Data for a PE-owned healthcare group, within a complete technology leadership build-out
Support
Frequently asked questions
Chief Data Officer or Chief Digital Officer: which does the business need?
If the job is owning data as an asset, how it is governed and trusted and turned into decisions and revenue, that is a Chief Data Officer. If it is channels, customer experience and the digital transformation of the business, that is a Chief Digital Officer, and the two need different people.
Should the Chief Data Officer own AI as well?
Where a business is running AI at scale, one leader across data, analytics and AI is often the cleaner structure, because the AI work depends on the data underneath it. Where the data foundations are not yet in place, putting all three in one seat over-reaches, and a data leader who fixes the foundation first is usually the better hire. We run AI leadership searches as well.
How long does a Chief Data Officer search take?
A well-scoped search typically takes 8 to 12 weeks from brief to accepted offer, and the quality of the brief does more to move that than anything else.
Can you place an interim Chief Data Officer?
Yes, through our interim and contract practice. Interim Chief Data Officers are an increasing part of that work, and an interim can hold the function while a permanent search runs.
