A PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR SUCCESSFUL
C-SUITE EXECUTIVES
Is your career goal to be CEO and to lead an organisation? The CEO Selection Program takes you behind the scenes to meet the Board of Directors, the Psychometric Assessors, private equity investors, executive search consultants and other stakeholders involved in briefing, searching, and selecting Chief Executive Officers.
CEO Succession
It all starts here
High performing leaders at the Group Executive or C-suite level
- Your career goal is to be CEO and to lead an organisation
- You are well regarded and driven
- You report directly into a Managing Director or CEO
Why this program?
Don’t lose your chance at the CEO role. Great CEO roles do not come up very often.
Led by the board, the CEO selection process is different to previous roles that you have interviewed for.
This program supports you to step out of your day to day and to understand the CEO selection process from the perspective of decision makers.
Program benefits
Understand the Board context, including ASX and private equity
Navigate the Executive Search industry; Master CVs & interviews
Reduce time to first CEO appointment
Gain financial nous, to support your own due diligence
Networks and access to decision making stakeholders
CEO Succession Program
The Program is informed by professionals, guest speakers and decision makers with experience from Australia’s leading companies including
Johnson & Johnson
100 Percent Partners
DDI
Kornferry
oOh!media
Woolworths
Boral
Metcash
Macquarie
Nine
Guardian
KKR
Heidrick & Struggles
Super Retail Group
Lifeline
Guest speakers
Our experienced guest speakers that you may meet include
Mark is an experienced Chair with over 30 years experience across private equity and consulting. Mark was a Partner at Bain responsible for advising the Boards and CEO’s of ASX 200 listed and large private companies across a range of industries in Australia and Asia. On leaving Bain, Mark co- founded Wolseley Private Equity which successfully invested over $1 billion in funds across Australia and New Zealand.
Mark has appointed CEOs in private equity and ASX listed companies. Earlier in his career Mark worked for Shell International and Esso Exploration in the USA, South Atlantic, North Sea, Africa and Holland.
Dominique Powrie is the Managing Director of DDI Australia, a leading global leadership consultancy, specialising in leadership assessment and development, including the science of CEO assessment and succession management. She has a deep background in coaching psychology and human resources.
Dominique previously held senior commercial roles including the Vice President Asia for GTA, a global technology wholesaler in the travel industry.
Michele Phillips is the Managing Partner of 100 Percent Partners, an Executive Search firm. She was previously a Partner with Korn Ferry the world’s largest executive search firm.
Michele partners with leading ASX-listed and foreign multinational companies along with private equity firms with an interest in growth and change, and has led the search for Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, CEO’s and senior C-suite leaders.
Michele was previously a Vice President for Electrolux Australia and Asia Pacific, and commenced her career with Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark and Nestle.
Michele partners with leading ASX-listed and foreign multinational companies along with private equity firms with an interest in growth and change, and has led the search for Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, CEO’s and senior C-suite leaders.
Michele was previously a Vice President for Electrolux Australia and Asia Pacific, and commenced her career with Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark and Nestle.
Jack Kerr is a principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ Sydney office and a member of the global Financial Services Practice. He executes Board, CEO and C-suite mandates for large-scale listed corporates, private companies, scale-ups, and challenger brands across Australia and New Zealand.
Jack has deep knowledge across the banking, payments, and fintech markets.
Peter James has over 20 years experience as a Director in ASX listed Technology, Telecommunications and Media companies. Peter is the Chair of ASX listed Macquarie Technology Group, Ansarada and the Chair of Droneshield. He is also the Chair of Private Equity (KKR) owned MYOB and Probe CX. He was the Chair of Nearmap, Dreamscape Networks Ltd, the Chair of Ninefold, and a long term Director with iiNet. He was the CEO of Computer Power Group Limited and Adcorp Australia Limited. He is also a successful investor in a number of Australian Technology and Social Media businesses.
Charmaine England brings two decades of experience as a managing director and global senior executive. Charmaine is the Chief Growth Officer for Kenvue, based in the US. She oversees the three global segments – Self Care, Skin Health and Beauty, and Essential Health - as well as Global Strategy & Transformation; Business Development & Ventures, and the ESG office.
Charmaine previously served as Area Managing Director for the United Kingdom & Northern Europe, where she delivered double-digit growth. Prior to this, she was the Managing Director for Australia.
Nicola Wakefield Evans is an experienced Non- Executive Director and corporate finance lawyer. She is Chair of MetLife Australia and the 30% Club Australia. She recently concluded 10 years as a Non-Executive Director on the Macquarie Group Board. Other previous appointments as a Non-Executive Director have included the Boards of Toll Holdings, BUPA Australia, AsiaLink and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Nicola is a current Non-Executive Director of Viva Energy Group Limited, Lendlease Corporation Limited, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and a Guardian of the Futurefund. She held key management positions at at King & Wood Mallesons including Managing Partner International in Hong Kong and Managing Partner, Practice in Sydney.
Mark Johnson is an experienced Non-Executive Director. He currently serves as Chair of the Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Ltd (HCF) and is an independent Director of Goodman Group, Sydney Airport, Metcash and Aurecon. He is also a Councillor at UNSW Sydney.
Mark was previously Chair of G8 Education Ltd and an independent Director of Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd, HSBC Bank Australia and Westfield Corporation Ltd. He was a Director of The Smith Family.
He held several senior leadership roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) including CEO of PwC and Deputy Chair of PwC Asia.
Justine Smyth is an experienced Chair and Director with deep understanding of governance, mergers and acquisitions, taxation and financial performance of large corporate enterprises. She currently serves as the Chair of Mondiale VGL, Spark New Zealand and The Breast Cancer Foundation, New Zealand and is a former director of Auckland International Airport Limited. Justine was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women and governance.
Georgina Varley serves as Managing Director at Adamantem Capital. She serves as Board Member at Retail Zoo and Heritage, and Chairs Climate Friendly. Georgina Varley is a Member of the Takeovers Panel, the primary forum for resolving disputes in takeovers in Australia.
Georgina has over 18 years of experience across private equity and investment banking and brings significant experience working on complex transactions and processes across a range of industries.
Prior to joining Adamantem Capital, she worked in private equity as an Investment Director at Archer Capital (2017-2018) and an Investment Director at Arowana International (2013-2016). She also worked at Macquarie Group (Sydney and London) from 2006-2013 in investment banking and principal investment.
Georgina has over 18 years of experience across private equity and investment banking and brings significant experience working on complex transactions and processes across a range of industries.
Prior to joining Adamantem Capital, she worked in private equity as an Investment Director at Archer Capital (2017-2018) and an Investment Director at Arowana International (2013-2016). She also worked at Macquarie Group (Sydney and London) from 2006-2013 in investment banking and principal investment.
Marcus Derwin is the Managing Director of R Cubed, a corporate advisory firm that works with boards and sponsors in times of crisis or underperformance, to aid performance, governance and leadership restructure.
Marcus is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director and corporate advisor with an extensive background in corporate restructuring, M&A and capital management of public and private companies. He held senior roles at PwC, NAB, AMP Capital and KPMG, and operates across Australia, the US and Europe.
Apply now
Option 1
To apply, email team@ceosuccession.com.au with a one page (max) CV including your career objectives, and indicate the location you are interested in joining.
Confirm the company that you are currently working with and that you report directly to a CEO or Managing Director.
To avoid disappointment, we suggest applying early.
Once we select a participant, we respectfully limit participation from competitor companies.
Dates and Fee
Format: Face-to-Face; 1.5 days
Fee: $2,600 (excl. GST)
Sydney dates: Friday 14 November 2025 (all day); Friday 21 November 2025 (half day)
Melbourne & Auckland: Join waitlist.
Online only: Join waitlist
Option 2
You may also send us a message by completing this form.
FAQs
Is the program relevant to me?
My CEO says that I am next in line and their successor. Why do I need this program?
The CEO does not make the decision to appoint the company’s next CEO. This is a decision made by the Board (or multinational parent).
By understanding the perspective of the board and other decision makers, you will be better prepared and more successful. You will also have the benefit of time to invest in any relevant skills, behaviours, or other other changes.
Does the program cover my sector / company / market size / industry?
Yes. The program is relevant to executives from all industries that are interested in securing the CEO role.
We focus on executives from large, well reputed ASX and multinational companies, and those that are placed as CEOs in private equity portfolio companies.
My company has leadership training. How is this different?
They are very different.
Leadership training is focused on a operations, such as strategy, people leadership or functional skills.
The CEO Selection Program is different. This program is specifically focused on the selection process and decision makers. Leadership programs do not provide a deep, behind the scenes perspective on the selection process.
I already have an MBA. Will I be doing the same thing?
The MBA is designed by academics and focuses on business strategy at its core.
The focus of The CEO Selection program is different. This program focuses on the practical aspects of the CEO selection process. Every candidate has skills – but not every candidate is well prepared for the requirements of the CEO selection process.
I’d like my company to sponsor me in this course. What is the benefit to my company?
We help internal candidates broaden their perspectives, from their day-to-day functional or divisional silo, to the broader needs of the business. Re-orienting your awareness to the needs of your Board, or multinational parent, makes you a more valuable leader to the organisation. It also increases the likelihood that your organisation can promote an internal successor.
Program Benefits for your company:
- Investment into a CEO-ready internal bench;
- A formal program that orientates you from functional, day to day leadership to consider the broader perspectives of the CEO role and the board requirements; you can then find ways to demonstrate this leading up to a succession event;
- An increase in your broader financial literacy, particularly if you are not the CFO of an ASX;
- Demonstrate commitment and interest in your potential to be a legitimate CEO successor;
- Inspire the organisation that there is potential for career progression to the top.
We can partner with your organisation on the outcomes that they would like to achieve.
I’m a very experienced Executive. Is this program for me?
Absolutely! This program is not focused on teaching you operational skills; it is focused on the CEO selection process.
Will this program guarantee me a CEO role?
No one can guarantee you a role. But this program will help you to be better prepared for the CEO selection process, to improve your positioning with decision makers, and to reduce your time to CEO appointment.
Format, Dates and Location
What is the format?
The program is face to face, over 1.5 days.
The program is specifically designed for busy Executives. Pre and post work is kept to a minimum. There is a focus on reflection and synthesising learning to practical actions.
Face-to-face learning, compared to virtual self paced learning, provides a richer experience, better networking, and supports a Chatham House Rules environment.
When and where?
The Sydney program commences 25 October 2024 in the CBD.
Sydney dates: Friday 28 February 2025 (all day); Friday 7 March 2025 (half day)
Melbourne and Auckland: Join the waitlist
Online only program: Join the waitlist
What if I am unable to attend a module?
If you miss a module, you can attend that module in a different co-hort, subject to availability.
Fees and qualifications
What is the program fee?
The fee for the CEO Selection Program is $2,600 (excl. GST).
This is not a virtual, online, self paced course. This is a high quality, bespoke program with access to significant decision makers in the CEO selection process.
You can compare this fee to other programs at leading universities. governance educators or other providers. You will find the fees are higher. More to the point, those progams cover strategy and leadership; they do not focus on the CEO selection process.
Will I get a certificate from doing this course?
Yes. That said, the value of the program is not adding to your CV that you have completed a CEO selection program, but demonstrating the value through a strong CV, interview skills, different behaviours, networking nous and heightened financial acumen.