People decisions shape business direction. We help you get them right.
The right People leader does more than shape culture. They influence business strategy, strengthen leadership capability, navigate workforce complexity and drive organisational performance.
At Samuels Donegan, HR is all we do. We partner with CEOs, boards and executive leadership teams to appoint Chief People Officers, Chief Human Resources Officers and senior People & Culture executives.
Our specialist knowledge of the Australian HR market, established executive networks and understanding of what makes great People leadership set us apart.
Trusted by Leading Australian Organisations
Whether you're appointing your first Chief People Officer, navigating organisational change or seeking an experienced executive to lead your people strategy, we understand that every appointment brings different expectations and challenges.
Chief People Officer (CPO)
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
Executive General Manager, People & Culture
Director, People & Culture
Group Human Resources Director
Vice President, People and Culture
We recognise that executive titles and reporting structures vary across organisations. What matters is the scope, influence and strategic accountability of the appointment.
Appointing an executive People leader requires more than understanding a position description.
It requires insight into the commercial realities organisations face and the leadership capabilities needed to influence business performance.
Our specialisation gives us a perspective that generalist executive search firms simply don't have.
01
We live and breathe the Australian HR market.
Our exclusive focus on People & Culture means we understand the technical disciplines, strategic challenges and evolving expectations of executive HR leadership.
We know what exceptional looks like, and that the right leader for one organisation isn't necessarily the right leader for another.
02
The best executive candidates aren't always actively looking.
Our established relationships across Australia's senior HR community allow us to identify and engage experienced leaders who may not be visible through traditional recruitment channels.
We understand what motivates senior executives and how to engage them in meaningful career conversations.
03
Our executive search expertise is supported by genuine market intelligence.
From executive remuneration and talent availability to emerging leadership capabilities and market movements, we provide insights that help organisations make informed hiring decisions.
Our annual HR Salary Guide and ongoing research further strengthen our understanding of the profession.
04
Executive appointments deserve senior attention.
Our searches are personally led by experienced recruitment leaders who take the time to understand your business, challenge assumptions and represent your opportunity with care.
You'll have direct access to the people managing your search, honest communication and clear accountability throughout.
Every executive appointment is different, and we believe the search process should reflect that.
We combine a structured executive search methodology with the judgement and discretion required for senior leadership appointments.
From defining your leadership requirements to identifying, assessing and securing the right executive, we tailor our approach to your organisation and its priorities.
From newly created executive positions to established leadership roles, we've partnered with organisations across different industries and stages of growth to identify the People leaders they need.
Samuels Donegan placed our Chief People Officer and the whole process was a pleasure from start to finish. Evelina took real time to understand our business, our culture and what we actually needed in the role, and when our thinking shifted she listened and adjusted rather than pushing her own view.
The team was consultative, warm and easy to deal with at every stage, and continued checking in well after the appointment to make sure the fit was working for both sides.
That care after the placement is what sets Samuels Donegan apart. I would work with Samuels Donegan again without hesitation and recommend them to anyone appointing senior executive leaders.
Experienced people. Trusted relationships. Personal commitment.
40+
Years of combined recruitment experience
30,000
HR & People professionals in our network
$250K+
Executive appointment experience
Sarah Donegan
Co-Founder & Director
With more than two decades of specialist HR recruitment experience, Sarah has built an extensive network across Australia's People & Culture leadership community and established herself as a trusted partner in senior executive appointments. Her experience spans transport and logistics, infrastructure, energy, retail, technology, financial services and superannuation, including executive appointments at the $250K+ level. Known for her direct, insightful approach and extensive market knowledge, Sarah brings sound judgement and a strong understanding of leadership capability to every search.
We share insights from across Australia's HR community to help organisations navigate executive hiring decisions, understand market conditions and stay informed about the evolving expectations of People leadership.
LET'S TALK
Whether you're appointing your first Chief People Officer, replacing a critical executive or planning for your organisation's next chapter, we're here to help.
Let's talk about your leadership priorities and what the right appointment could make possible.
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