Entertainment

Case Studies

Entertainment

Chief Technology & Information Officer –Entertainment & Hospitality Group

Context
A prominent entertainment and hospitality group sought to appoint a new Chief Technology & Information Officer. The organisation was focused on securing exceptional global talent, with a particular interest in attracting experienced female technology executives. Ideal candidates would bring exposure to both the international hotel sector and highly regulated industries such as financial services, given the importance of risk, compliance, and AML considerations.

Talent Implications
The intersection of entertainment, gaming, and hospitality created a highly specialised and complex talent brief. The role required not only sector-specific knowledge but also experience navigating strict regulatory environments. Additionally, a strong commitment was made to increasing gender diversity at the executive level. The market dynamics were further complicated by many ideal candidates being based in low-tax jurisdictions or on high-value USD remuneration packages abroad.

Search Strategy
To meet these demands, a globally coordinated search strategy was implemented. This included comprehensive international market mapping across Asia, Europe, and the US, as well as targeted local engagement with high-performing female technology leaders.

Outcome
After an extensive global process, a local technology leader with deep experience in highly regulated industries & digital customer journeys was appointed. Their expertise in delivering transformation within complex governance environments aligned strongly with the organisation’s objectives.

Chief Technology & Data Officer | National Sporting Organisation Sector

Context
A leading national sporting body was seeking a new Chief Technology & Data Officer to succeed their long-serving technology leader, who had accepted an international opportunity. With a major technology transformation program recently completed, the organisation was shifting its focus toward deepening partnerships, while expanding the scope of the role to include enterprise-wide data leadership. More

Talent Implications
Operating in a federated model with a complex ecosystem of clubs, sponsors, broadcasters, and fans, the organisation required a leader with exceptional stakeholder management and alignment capabilities. Beyond technical expertise, it was essential that the individual had a strong cultural alignment, someone who could thrive in a high-profile, publicly visible organisation and align with its strong sense of community and purpose.

Search Strategy
The search focused on identifying talent from industries known for managing dynamic, multi-site operations and passionate customer bases including retail, FMCG, manufacturing, sporting bodies, and member-based organisations.

Outcome
Following a comprehensive local and international search, an experienced technology leader was appointed to the role and commenced in January 2025. The successful candidate brought a strong background in commercial leadership, data-driven decision-making, and stakeholder engagement across complex environments.

General Manager – Enterprise Services & Engineering | National Entertainment Organisation

Context
A leading national entertainment organisation engaged Trova Talent in a confidential search to expand strategic capability within its core infrastructure function including cloud, networks, end-user computing, and hosting services following the appointment of a new Chief Information Officer. More

Talent Implications
The successful candidate needed to be a seasoned technology executive with demonstrated experience leading large-scale technology transformations in customer-centric environments. Expertise in outsourcing negotiations and vendor management was also essential to support ongoing operational strategy.

Search Strategy
A programmatic market mapping approach was employed across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane to identify technology leaders with deep expertise in cloud infrastructure and operations. Priority was given to candidates experienced in complex businesses undergoing digital-led transformations. Additionally, a focus on gender diversity was maintained, resulting in a shortlist with greater than 50% female representation to enhance leadership inclusivity.

Outcome
Following a comprehensive search, a technology executive with a strong background in wagering and digital transformation across major companies was appointed in 2023. This leader’s expertise contributed significantly to the organisation’s strategic decision-making, including a major outsourcing arrangement with a global technology partner.

General Manager Architecture & Strategy – Entertainment & Hospitality Group

Context
Following our appointment of a new Chief Technology Officer, a senior role was created to drive architecture and strategy across the enterprise. The organisation was emerging from years of underinvestment and embarking on a significant digital transformation. More

Talent Implications
The brief required a leader with expertise in digital, data, and customer platforms who could modernise technology and influence across diverse stakeholders. Experience in both physical and digital environments was essential.

Search Strategy
Trova was programmatic in our approach to this search, targeting top talent with experience leading strategy and architecture in businesses that have both a physical and digital presence including FMCG, retail, telecommunications, airlines and logistics.

Outcome
The search reached final interview stages with strong candidates attracted through a programmatic approach and a clearly articulated transformation agenda. Our purposely designed success profile & selection criteria was utilised to calibrate the top two final candidates.

Chief Data, Analytics & Innovation Officer – ASX listed Omni Channel  Business

Context
Following a major demerger, the organisation began a large-scale transformation. Unlocking the power of data to drive growth, innovation and scalability was central to their next phase. More

Talent Implications
Data, analytics, intelligence and insight capability existed across the organisation with no unified enterprise strategy. This was the inaugural Chief of Data role and in addition to the ‘technical’ credentials, key selection criteria included the ability to engage, educate, advocate and influence across senior executives, leaders as well as the board, on TLC’s data led future. Creating a data driven culture was the aspiration.

Search Strategy
Trova worked closely with the Chief Information Officer to consider the archetypes of talent that best served the organisation’s ambition. The success profile identified that management consulting capability combined with lived accountability from a large B2C organisation was compelling.

Outcome
Following a rigorous and programmatic search of the most mature data led organisations, a candidate with a global background in consulting and enterprise analytics was appointed. The engagement strategy emphasised the rare opportunity to shape a new data-driven culture and helped secure one of the most accomplished data leaders in the region.

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 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.