Delivering an Executive Search to Appoint a Strategic Leader for a Public Sector Utility
Future Leadership™ was engaged by a public sector water corporation in Victoria to appoint a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join its Executive Leadership Team. The organisation is one of Australia’s fastest growing and most culturally diverse water utilities, with a strong commitment to operational excellence and community impact.
The Brief
Future Leadership™ was engaged by a Victorian water corporation to appoint a Chief Operating Officer responsible for enterprise-enabling functions including financial planning, procurement, technology, legal, and risk management.
The role required a seasoned executive with experience in regulated environments, transformation leadership, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate would report directly to the Managing Director and play a critical role in delivering strategic outcomes for customers, communities, and shareholders.
The Process
Future Leadership approached the search with a deep understanding of clients vision and its commitment to delivering trusted water services for current and future generations. The Future Leadership team, led by David Baber attended a comprehensive briefing to clarify the organisation’s strategic priorities, operational challenges, and cultural aspirations. The search strategy was designed to attract accomplished executives with experience in regulated sectors, a strong commercial and business partnering background, and a demonstrated ability to lead large-scale transformation.
The campaign was promoted across targeted industry channels and professional networks and supported by online advertising, ensuring a diverse and high-calibre candidate pool. Future Leadership maintained close communication with the client, providing regular updates and calibrating candidate profiles to align with evolving organisational needs. Rigorous assessment focused on leadership capability, stakeholder engagement, and a track record of delivering operational efficiencies and innovative improvements. This consultative and transparent approach resulted in a shortlist of outstanding candidates. This rigorous process ensured the appointment of a candidate capable of delivering operational and strategic leadership.
The Outcome
The process resulted in the appointment of a seasoned Chief Operating Officer with over 25 years of executive experience across commercial finance, technology transformation, procurement, and strategy.
The appointed executive had recently served as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Transformation Director at another major water utility, successfully leading ERP implementation, cyber security uplift, and organisational change. Their leadership style is defined by strategic vision, commercial acumen, and a collaborative approach that builds trust and empowers teams.
