HFW announces new management board

The firm elected several new global group heads and welcomed an external board member

HFW announces new management board

HFW has announced its new management board following the election of several global group heads.

Sydney-based Carolyn Chudleigh has been named corporate and commercial head, with London’s Michael Sergeant succeeding her as the new construction head. Singapore’s Mert Hifzi has been appointed global aerospace group head.

Christopher Foster, also from the London office, steps in as the new insurance and reinsurance head, while Geneva’s Olivier Bazin is the new head of finance. London-based Alistair Feeney and Paul Dean are set to continue as heads of commodities and shipping, respectively.

These group heads join managing partner Jeremy Shebson, global senior partner Giles Kavanagh, COO Sid Welham, CFO Hamedeh Ghobadian, global HR director Corrin Kaye and external board member Harry Nicholson to form the new board.

Nicholson, previously a partner EY's strategy consulting arm EY-Parthenon, is the first external member of HFW’s management board. Kaye is the first HR representative to take a seat on the board.

“As we embark upon a period of expansion and change, we felt it would be particularly beneficial to have some external perspective on the board, and Harry Nicholson brings significant experience, having helped build EY-Parthenon from a start-up to a global strategy consulting team of 1,800,” Shebson explained. “Our new board also for the first time includes representation from HR, reflecting our focus on our people and the critical role they play in our success as a business.”

In addition, Yaman Al Hawamdeh has been selected to lead the firm’s Dubai office, while Amanda Kujda will take the helm at the Houston office. Jean-Marc Zampa will head the Paris office.