Consumer & Retail
Case Studies
Consumer & Retail
Chief Technology Officer – Diversified Portfolio Company
Context
A newly appointed CEO sought to significantly uplift the capability of the technology leadership. The business had recently integrated three previously siloed divisions and was looking to unify and modernise its approach to technology enablement across it’s core service lines.
Talent Implications
The organisation’s strategy centred on driving growth through technology, with a critical focus on improving capability in data and cybersecurity. A key leadership appointment was required, a CTO who could operate in a highly federated environment, partner effectively with varied business units, and drive the next phase of digital and operational transformation.
Search Strategy
The search concentrated on leaders from sectors that had undergone digital disruption and transformation, including energy, automotive, and real estate. Candidates needed a demonstrated ability to operate in complex, regulated environments with a strong focus on customer impact and service reliability.
Outcome
A seasoned technology leader was appointed to the role, bringing extensive experience in leading large-scale technology and operational transformation. Their background spanned multiple sectors with regulatory demands, customer-centric service delivery, and complex governance structures.
Chief Financial Officer – ASX-Listed Consumer Business
Context
An ASX-listed consumer business was facing a period of performance headwinds. Trova Talent was engaged to appoint a new CFO who could provide financial stewardship during a period of uncertainty, while also preparing the business for a future CEO appointment. More
Talent Implications
The ideal candidate needed to bring experience operating in a publicly listed environment, coupled with a strong track record in financial turnaround and cash flow management. Resilience and grit were essential, as the CFO would play a visible role in stabilising the business, communicating confidence to the market, and shaping a viable path forward both operationally and strategically.
Search Strategy
A targeted, multi-layered approach was undertaken. Trova Talent analysed publicly listed companies that had successfully transitioned from financial distress to growth, using those case studies to identify talent with proven turnaround experience. We also leveraged deep CEO networks to gain insight into the real-world capability and leadership presence of prospective candidates.
Outcome
An accomplished CFO with experience across high-growth consumer markets and listed environments was appointed in mid-2024. The successful candidate brought a strong blend of financial and operational leadership, including roles in joint ventures, global SaaS businesses, and large-scale Australian enterprises.
Chief Financial Officer – ASX-Listed eCommerce
Context
An ASX-listed e-commerce business experienced rapid growth during the pandemic, but faced challenging forecasts in the post-pandemic environment. Trova Talent was engaged to appoint a new CFO to support a first-time ASX-listed CEO navigating this critical transition. More
Talent Implications
The organisation was undergoing significant strategic change, needing to stabilise after unprecedented growth. Key decisions around strategy, capital allocation, and balance sheet management were essential to enable turnaround and sustainable growth. Restoring confidence among investors, analysts, and shareholders was also a top priority.
Search Strategy
The search targeted highly experienced ASX-listed CFOs with deep expertise in digital and e-commerce businesses, complemented by executives from retail sectors. While the primary focus was on local talent, the search also considered returning expatriates and candidates familiar with the North American market, reflecting the company’s key growth region.
Outcome
Following a thorough search, a seasoned CFO with extensive experience in leading ASX-listed digital companies was appointed and commenced early 2023. The breadth of his experience across economic cycles brought valuable insight, strategic confidence, and financial stewardship to the role.
Chief Information Officer – National Quick Service Retailer
Context
A prominent quick service retailer with a large national footprint was preparing to separate from its parent company. The CEO sought to appoint a Chief Information Officer to join the executive leadership team and lead the technology modernisation needed to support continued growth and independent operations. More
Talent Implications
The organisation required a highly experienced CIO with deep expertise in retail and quick service restaurant environments. The ideal executive needed to be comfortable both at the group leadership level and tactical in technology delivery, able to lead a small, agile team and manage vendor relationships effectively.
Search Strategy
In partnership with the CEO, a clear success profile was developed. The search targeted top technology leaders within Australian retail and quick service restaurant sectors who had led significant, successful technology transformation initiatives.
Outcome
Following a thorough search, a seasoned CIO with extensive experience in the Australian retail sector and a track record of leadership in high-profile retail businesses was appointed in early 2023.
Chief Information Security Officer – National Retail & Entertainment business
Context
The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role was critical in safeguarding the organisation’s technology infrastructure while driving strategic business outcomes. The CISO was accountable for the end-to-end technology security and risk posture, including policy design, monitoring, enforcement, and delivery of key security uplift programs. More
Talent Implications
The search focused on candidates with extensive experience leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity transformations. This was especially important as the organisation transitioned to an independent operating model, separating from a former parent company while maintaining a shared services infrastructure and uninterrupted customer engagement. Strong leadership was essential to support a workforce that had already undergone significant change.
Search Strategy
The search prioritised female candidates with proven track records in driving impactful cybersecurity change, with a preference for executives based locally to foster close collaboration and leadership presence.
Outcome
An accomplished cybersecurity executive with over 20 years of experience across Australia and New Zealand was appointed. This leader demonstrated strong leadership capabilities, strategic vision, and operational delivery excellence. Their experience included managing complex cyber solutions across multiple time zones and delivering outcomes through collaboration.
General Manager – Customer Operations | National Omni-Channel Retailer
Context
A major omnichannel organisation with a strong presence in digital and retail channels sought to enhance its customer experience. Despite a broad market footprint including a popular app and an extensive network of distributors nationally, the opportunity to inspire and delight customers was underutilised. Customer operations were identified as a critical lever for transformative uplift. More
Talent Implications
The organisation required an executive who had successfully led similar customer transformations. Key dimensions included technology transformation, CRM system selection, digitisation initiatives, and redesigning operating and organisational models.
Search Strategy
Brisbane was the preferred location for this appointment, to enable close collaboration with the Chief Customer Officer, Chief Information Officer, and CEO. A programmatic search was undertaken, targeting leaders from organisations that had completed comparable customer operations transformations. Talent was sourced from well-regarded Queensland-headquartered companies, as well as professionals with prior Brisbane experience who might consider returning for the right opportunity.
Outcome
After an extensive search and a rigorous assessment process, the organisation appointed an accomplished leader with extensive experience across brand, marketing, e-commerce, distribution, and customer operations. Known for her transformational impact and inspirational leadership, the appointee brought a strong reputation from a leading financial services group.
Chief Data and AI Officer | Leading National Retailer
Context
A major national retailer engaged Trova Talent to confidentially replace an incumbent leader. Data plays a critical role in our client’s operations to drive key strategic pillars, including customer experience, operational efficiency, and safety. More
Talent Implications
The Data and AI team had grown significantly, and the organisation sought a highly strategic leader to build further capability as it embarked on a market-leading transformation leveraging AI technologies.
Search Strategy
Headquartered in Melbourne, the search extended across Australia and New Zealand to identify the best talent with Data and AI credentials in the region. Trova Talent conducted an extensive search across large listed and private businesses.
Outcome
Following a targeted search, a highly regarded and award-winning data executive was appointed. The successful candidate brought a diverse background spanning technology consulting, education, and global financial services. Their recognition includes prestigious industry awards and leadership accolades.
Chief Technology Officer – ASX Listed Retail Business
Context
This organisation had recently demerged from a major parent company and required a CTO to drive modernisation, simplification, customer experience, and technology risk management across its national footprint. More
Talent Implications
The role demanded a proven transformation leader capable of leading post-separation integration without disrupting customer experience. Integrity and strong leadership were key due to internal fatigue post-demerger.
Search Strategy
Trova focused on transformation-ready CTOs with customer-first mindsets. A preference for local leadership and diversity shaped our approach, with a focus on those experienced in regulated and complex service environments.
Outcome
An executive with a multidimensional background in enterprise technology, consulting, and regulated sectors was appointed. Extensive referencing confirmed a strong reputation for leadership integrity and transformational impact.
Chief Technology Officer – National Retailer
Context
A national retailer was undergoing a major digital transformation. After parting ways with a long-standing CTO, they required new leadership to unify digital and physical channels, invest in cloud and AI, and support long-term innovation. More
Talent Implications
The business needed a CTO with experience in large-scale legacy technology uplift, retail innovation, and commercial digital capability. Leadership reputation and vision were as important as technical pedigree.
Search Strategy
Trova undertook a global search across grocery, retail, and broader consumer sectors. Profiles from top-tier global retailers and high-performing Australian executives were included.
Outcome
A local executive with extensive experience in digital transformation and strong product and people leadership was appointed. They had credibility with the board and executive team and were known for driving cultural change and innovation.
Chief Architect – ASX Listed Retail Group
Context
Amid an internal restructure led by a first-time CTO, this retail business sought to appoint a Chief Architect to build an enterprise architecture function and provide succession capability. More
Talent Implications
The client needed a candidate who could unify fragmented teams, scale platforms, and champion a cloud-first, customer-centric approach. They also required agility and leadership maturity to operate in a high-change environment.
Search Strategy
Trova focused on candidates from digital-native companies and innovation-led retailers. Success profiles prioritised experience in scalable architecture models, agile delivery, and data-led transformation.
Outcome
Trova partnered closely with the CTO to shape a compelling EVP and interview process that allowed the candidates to spend time in retail outlets during the process. A highly regarded Architecture leader was appointed to the role and began in January 2025.
General Manager Retail – ASX Listed National Retail Group
Context
An ASX Listed National retail group was looking to hire a new General Manager – Retail Operations as part of the channel leadership team as the incumbent was retiring. With thousands of retail points of presence, the position carried responsibility for supporting small business retailers, leading a dispersed team, and executing a five-year distribution plan. More
Talent Implications
The appointment required a commercially astute leader with retail and franchise operations expertise, capable of balancing regulatory compliance with retailer advocacy. Success demanded strategic planning, stakeholder influence, and the ability to drive performance and sustainability across a large network.
Search Strategy
Trova targeted senior retail operations executives from multi-site, franchise, and regulated environments. Candidates needed proven experience leading distributed teams, improving commercial outcomes, and working effectively with both executives and industry stakeholders.
Outcome
An executive with more than 20 years’ leadership experience across major retail and franchise environments was appointed. They brought a track record of delivering growth and transformation, leading large field teams, improving compliance and training, and building sustainable franchise networks.
Chief Risk Officer – Listed National Services Group
Context
Following the appointment of a new Chief Executive, this highly regulated organisation saw the need to lift capability as it relates to their efforts in risk and compliance. The need to be pre-emptive on planned changes in legislation was also on the minds of the Board. More
Talent Implications
The ask of Trova was to not only identify highly regarded Chief Risk Officers from pedigree, blue-chip organisations, it was to target those who had been successful in shifting the organisation from risk as compliance function to risk as culture. Trova was assessing the Chief Risk Officer’s influence beyond frameworks into mindset, behaviours, and enterprise leadership.
Search Strategy
Trova targeted sectors and companies with complex regulatory landscape’s & who had undertaken significant transformative change. This methodology provided a fertile source of risk executives who had experienced challenging and rich problems to solve & at times where the stakes were high. Many of our shortlisted talent had led risk during experiences of royal commissions, cyber-attacks, and shareholder activism.
Outcome
Following an extensive domestic and global search, our client chose a Chief Risk Officer with versatility across industry, region, and organisational ownership. A combination of experience working in a major Australian regulator coupled with leadership roles in consulting and industry proved to be compelling for this organisation’s CEO & Board.