Brw 110331
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Darren Challis had an unusual career path that led him to his current role setting up the Australian subsidiary of the global executive search firm DHR International. After practicing law briefly, Challis earned an MBA and worked as a management consultant and in commercial strategy roles. He realized he enjoyed being a "trusted advisor" and spent three years as an executive search consultant before being recruited to launch DHR International in Australia. Challis now leads a team of four consultants and aims to grow the business to 10 consultants by 2015, finding it very satisfying to help chairmen, CEOs, and senior executives with their careers and businesses.
Brw 110331
- 1. Thursday, 31 March 2011 Enter Search Keywords Go My Account About BRW Events Advertise Newsletters Contact Us Network Sites Home Sections Lists Columns BRW TV Subscribe Sign Out Home advertising REINVENTION: DARREN CHALLIS 1 hours 7 minutes ago | Leo D'Angelo Fisher +font - font print email Like many lawyers, Darren Challis decided that the law was not for him. However, his five years as a corporate lawyer with Minter Ellison was indirectly responsible for putting Challis on his preferred career path: executive search. This unusual career deviation placed Challis in the right spot last year, when he was chosen to set up the Australian subsidiary of United States-based global executive search company, DHR International . Challis left the law to undertake an MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management, now the Australian School of sponsored links Business at the University of NSW . Six years as a management consultant at Boston Consulting Making property investment easy. Group followed before he joined Fairfax Media (publisher of BRW ) as a senior executive in Invest in secure worry-free property with DHA. commercial strategy and new media. Business Congress 2011. Save $300 So why the switch to executive search? By definition, search finds you, he smiles. It took some time Inspire new ideas & thinking for Cupids arrow to find its mark. Egon Zehnder International first approached Challis while he was at Over 40 business experts BCG and discussions took place off and on over four years. It was while at Fairfax, in 2006, that New Resource for Resources! Challis realised how much he missed being in the role of trusted adviser. Exclusive and dedicated coverage. FREE 14 DAY TRIAL click here. Challis spent the next three years as a search consultant at Egon Zehnder, before being headhunted by DHR. When Challis set up DH International as the firm is known locally in Sydney last June, it was just him. He now has a staff of four and the aim is to build a business of 10 consultants by 2015. Its been a very satisfying experience, he says. DHR was founded by David Hoffmann in 1989. Hoffmann, who is group chairman and chief executive, decided to establish an Australian presence when he was working on a search assignment in the US for an Australian client. He felt it was a good time to move into Australia, particularly given a relatively strong market across Asia during the global financial crisis compared with Europe and the US, Challis says. Running DH International has confirmed Challiss passion for search. I get a lot of enjoyment out of being a trusted adviser and being in a top-tier global search firm I can pursue that relationship of trusted adviser in a very personal and privileged way, he says. Every day Im talking to chairmen, CEOs and other senior executives about themselves and their teams, about their careers, their lives and their aspirations for themselves and their businesses. BRW Related News TOPICS Employment & Industrial Relations, Media & Marketing/Publishing & Media, Technology/Telecommunications Leo D'Angelo Fisher Reporter Melbourne Leo D'Angelo Fisher specialises in management and leadership issues, emerging companies and corporate strategy. He is a former editor of Rydges magazine, deputy editor of Far East Business, deputy editor of Business Queensland and a senior business writer at The Bulletin. He wrote the book Rethink: The Story of Edward de Bono in Australia. Management update Six local leaders receive global recognition University opts for French connection New business chamber for women Privacy Copyright Online Subscription Terms Conditions of Use Print Subscription Terms Help & FAQ