Johnson Partners

Interim executives are no longer a stopgap. In 2026, they are a deliberate leadership choice where timing, execution and risk really matter. Organisations are increasingly using interim leaders to: - Move faster through change, without lengthy onboarding - Stabilise execution where failure is not an option - Maintain momentum while permanent searches run in parallel - Access specialist capability for defined, time‑bound outcomes - Give Boards flexibility without compromising delivery Through our Interim Practice, Johnson Partners supports organisations to buy time without losing momentum, and to deliver outcomes when execution cannot slip. If you’d like to explore how interim leadership can be deployed strategically, connect with Lisa McAuliffe, Partner – Interim Practice. #InterimLeadership #InterimExecutives #ExecutiveSearch

Thank you to everyone who joined us for lunch at Onslow (Auckland), for a stimulating discussion on scarcity, productivity and technological change – and what this means for the future of workforce design. As New Zealand organisations navigate ongoing talent constraints, a persistent productivity gap and accelerating technological disruption, the conversation reinforced a clear theme: sustainable performance is increasingly driven by how work is designed, not simply by adding headcount or deploying new tools. Workforce design is now a leadership and governance issue, rather than solely an HR consideration. Our esteemed panellists (Jo Avenell, Anna Morris and Kevin Kenrick) shared insights from their careers in highly disrupted sectors, exploring the shift from role‑based structures to outcomes and value creation, where AI and automation can genuinely augment human judgement and enhance performance. They also talked extensively about what Boards and executives should be asking to ensure workforce decisions support long‑term performance and resilience, and the importance of ensuring Boards are joining the AI literacy journey along with the executive and employee base. A sincere thank you to our panellists for their candour and depth of perspective, and to our audience for their participation. The discussion underscored the importance of continued dialogue as organisations rethink workforce models for the years ahead. Thanks also to Natalie Stones for facilitating the discussion.  #WorkforceDesign #FutureOfWork #Productivity #AI #Leadership #Governance #NZLeaders Jason Johnson Nicola Morris Natalie Stones Peter Macauley Madeleine Willis Salma Usman Malik Chris Baker

We are delighted to have partnered with Craigs Investment Partners on the appointment of Melanie Dyer as Chief People Officer. Melanie joins in June 2026, bringing over 20 years of senior People and Culture leadership across complex, regulated environments in New Zealand and Australia. She has held executive roles at Port of Tauranga and Trustpower, leading enterprise-wide transformation, strengthening leadership capability and building high-performance cultures. This appointment reflects Craigs’ continued focus on growth, leadership depth and aligning people strategy with business performance. Melanie’s commercial mindset, pragmatic leadership style and strong board engagement experience position her well to support the firm’s next phase. Craigs manages ~$35bn in client funds and supports more than 70,000 clients nationwide, with global partnerships including Raymond James and J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and backing from TA Associates. Many thanks to the Johnson Partners team who worked on this appointment Nicola Morris, Salma Usman Malik and Madeleine Willis.

Johnson Partners is pleased to share the appointment of David Lacey as Chief Scams Officer at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). In this newly created and pivotal role, David will lead the expansion of AFCA’s jurisdiction to assess the roles of banks, telecommunications providers and digital platforms in scam related complaints. The Chief Scams Officer appointment is one of several recent C-suite additions at AFCA, strengthening the organisation's leadership team to meet future demands and the needs of the community. As founder and Chief Executive of IDCARE, David helped build Australia’s national response service for victims of identity crime and scams, alongside senior leadership roles across cyber security, law enforcement and national security. David has spent years working directly with scam victims, and that perspective will be critical in shaping a scams ombudsman service that is accessible, fair and can effectively resolve complex issues involving multiple parties. We congratulate David and the AFCA team on this appointment, and on our side we thank Jason Johnson, Jonathon Morse, Vanessa Bathe, Mariam Kirakosyan, and Anne McDulling.

Over the past fifteen years, there has been a palpable trend in the General Counsel searches I have led. Increasingly, Boards and CEOs are seeking GCs who are Enterprise Leaders and not merely technical experts. What kind of GC does your organisation need to future proof it? For a confidential discussion please contact Joe Karsay at joe@johnsonpartners.co

In Private Equity, speed is everything. When value creation timelines tighten or a critical phase can’t wait, interim executive capability becomes a decisive asset. Through our Interim Practice, Johnson Partners provides PE firms and portfolio companies with rapid access to proven leaders, supporting performance uplift, M&A integration and carve outs, cost and margin discipline, operating model reset and leadership gaps during hold period transitions. Proven, outcome driven leadership on demand. If you’d like to explore more, please contact Lisa McAuliffe Partner, Interim Practice https://lnkd.in/g7Dwxw2r #PrivateEquity #InterimLeadership #InterimExecutives 

Through our work with boards and CEOs, we continue to see CFO transitions as one of the most underestimated leadership risks in listed companies. Recent global research shows 40% of sitting CFOs across major organisations are likely to make a career move, yet many organisations still take a reactionary approach to succession. It’s a costly blind spot. In listed environments, the CFO is more than a financial steward. They underpin investor confidence, shape capital strategy, and anchor board trust. Across the ASX, the signals are hard to ignore:  - There were 51 CFO transitions across the ASX200 in 2025, the highest mark in seven years.  - Tenure is shortening, now averaging 4.5 years versus 5.5 between 2017–2019.  - More than half of exiting CFOs are stepping into board roles or retiring, not making lateral CFO moves.  - Gender diversity among ASX100 is accelerating. Women now hold 26% CFO roles across the ASX100, over half of these appointments made since 2020.  - The CFO profile itself is evolving. Strategic foresight, AI fluency, and transformation leadership now matter as much as technical rigour.  The takeaway?  CFO succession planning is no longer a compliance exercise, it’s a strategic safeguard. The most forward thinking CEOs and boards treat the CFO pipeline as living infrastructure: actively reviewed, co-owned by the CEO, the CFO, and Board and calibrated to the company’s future state, not its present one.  Organisations that manage succession well will retain what matters most: continuity, confidence, and culture.  For those who want to continue the conversation on CFO succession Sung Ho Lee is always open to a thoughtful discussion. #CFO #ChiefFinancialOfficer #Leadership #Board #CEO #ExecutiveSearch #ASX #Succession

Australian CFO Awards 2026 | Winners Announced Johnson Partners, together with the Group of 100, were pleased to host the Australian CFO Awards last night, bringing together an exceptional group of finance leaders and industry peers. The awards recognise outstanding achievement across the finance profession, celebrating transformational leadership, landmark transactions and emerging talent shaping Australian business. Congratulations to the 2026 award winners Lifetime Achievement: David Lamont, Telstra CFO of the Year: Richard Richards, SGH Ltd Private Equity CFO: Yvonne Le Bas, Resolution Life Deal of the Year: AirTrunk, Prashant Murthy Finance Team of the Year: Australia Post, Craig Roberts Sustainability Leadership: James Crough, Orica Investor Engagement Excellence: Michael Ackland, Telstra Deputy CFO: Phil Clewett, Downer Rising Star: Jane Kuang, BHP A highlight of the evening was the panel discussion hosted by David Koch AM on 'What makes a good CFO?'. Thanks to the panel for your thoughtful discussion about the future of finance leadership Stephen Gustafson, Yasmin Allen AM and Crispin Murray. Thank you to our sponsors Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand & AICPA & CIMA Asia for your unwavering support and to our judges for making the event possible Yasmin Allen AM, Georgina Johnson, Alison Kitchen AM, Sung Ho Lee, Crispin Murray, Sarah Rennie, Inder Singh, Colin Storrie, Stephen Woodhill. Congratulations to all winners and finalists and thank you to everyone who joined us to mark the occasion. We look forward to hosting you next year. #AustralianCFOAwards #FinanceLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #CFO

When execution can’t slip, transformation leadership must land fast. Interim Chief Transformation Officer capability delivers decisive momentum, bringing focus, pace and delivery to drive immediate outcomes. Through our Interim Practice, Johnson Partners provides rapid access to proven transformation leaders across enterprise transformation, operating model change, performance improvement, M&A integration, program recovery and leadership gaps during critical phases of change. Momentum when transformation can’t wait. Connect with Lisa McAuliffe to find out how Interim Executives can support your organisation https://lnkd.in/g7Dwxw2r #ChiefTransformationOfficer #TransformationLeadership #InterimLeadership #JohnsonPartners #CTO

Johnson Partners is pleased to share that Renee Amor has been appointed into the Chief Marketing Officer role at Nuix, reporting to CEO, John Ruthven.   Nuix, an ASX listed company, works in some of the most high stakes corners of the digital world, where data, evidence and truth genuinely matter. The business needed someone who could sit comfortably with highly technical buyers, but also help the business tell a clearer, braver story about the impact it has. Renee has a track record of doing exactly that at the likes of illion and BPAY, and we cannot wait to see her impact across the business.   Congratulations to Renee and the Nuix team. Thank you on our side to Kate Ferguson Michael Rewitt and Carmelina Portelli.