DAVID PLEYDELL

Managing Partner

Senior Executive | Board search | Human Resources​ | Education

David leads SHK’s senior executive, human resources and higher education search practices, specialising in leading searches for Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer and Non-Executive Director (including Chair) appointments for clients across the full range of corporate (including listed and large private clients), not-for-profit and public sectors. For clients in the higher education sector, he partners in the appointment of executive academic and governance positions.

For the Panorama network, David is the global lead of the Higher Education Group, which includes pre-eminent higher education search firms in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, India and the Middle East.

David relishes the trust and deep partnerships he has nurtured with his clients, and is acknowledged by clients and candidates for the judgment and insight he brings to his search and selection practice along with his candidate and client care.

David joined SHK after a 25-year career in strategy, marketing and operations. This includes numerous years as an executive responsible for strategy and clients. He has held board and advisory committee roles for a variety of not-for-profit and community organisations with a particular focus on education, reconciliation and the arts.

David holds degrees in Arts, Education and Business from Monash University.

Recent appointments:
  • Chief Executive Officer – national, sector-leading professional services firm
  • Chief Executive Officer – specialist public hospital and community health organisation
  • Chief Executive Officer – international humanitarian organisation
  • Chief Executive Officer – Victorian governing sports body
  • Managing Director – Victorian state-wide legal sector organisation
  • Managing Director – Australia/New Zealand sports and entertainment organisation
  • Chancellor – globally top-ranked university
  • Chair – specialist public hospital and community health organisation
  • Chair – national, sector-leading professional services firm
  • Global Chief People Officer – diversified, global Australian fund manager
  • Chief People Officer – Group of Eight University
  • Chief People Officer – global Australian university
  • Chief People & Culture Officer – major public hospital
  • Provost – Group of Eight University
  • Vice-President, Asia – global transnational education provider.


david.pleydell@shk.com.au

david.pleydell@shk.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pleydell/