Michael Thomas

Michael works with clients across multiple industries to place board members, chief executive officers, and other C-suite leaders. He has led more than 275 senior-level searches worldwide, including over 50 CEO and 40 non-executive director appointments.

Prior to joining Heidrick, Michael led the industrial practice in Australia and New Zealand for another global search firm. Before his career in search, he was the CEO of AsureQuality, Asia Pacific’s largest food safety, quality assurance, and biosecurity company, with 2,000 employees throughout Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East.

Michael also held senior executive roles with PGG Wrightson, New Zealand’s largest listed agribusiness, with operations in Australasia, Asia, and South America. During his tenure, he led the $1 billion retail and financial services businesses, overseeing a broad network of more than 100 locations.

Before that, Michael spent 10 years with AWB, Australia’s leading soft commodities marketer, where he led the organization’s $4 billion retail business servicing 90,000 clients in a national network of 400 locations, as well as leading corporate strategy, M&A, marketing, corporate affairs, human resources, and investor relations.

Michael has served as a non-executive and executive director on several boards. He was awarded the Most Distinguished Student Prize while at the University of Adelaide.

University of New England, Master's Degree in Economics, with distinction

University of Adelaide, Bachelor of Agricultural Science

Financial Services Institute of Australasia, Graduate Diploma in Finance and Investment

University of New England, Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics