Darren Challis is the founder and Managing Director of Challis & Company. He has worked as a search consultant on many successful assignments to find chairs, NEDs, CEOs, country managers and functional leaders across a range of industries. He has also led many board reviews and management assessments.

 

Before founding Challis & Company, Darren worked as a consultant with Egon Zehnder.

 

Darren was born and grew up in Sydney. He worked through his high school and university studies as a technology journalist writing over 300 articles for mainstream magazines and newspapers. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Government & Public Administration) and Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from The University of Sydney, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Technology Sydney. On admission as a solicitor, he worked as a corporate and finance lawyer with MinterEllison, focused on M&A and infrastructure assets such as airports and telecommunications networks.

 

Darren then completed a full-time Master of Business Administration degree at the Australian Graduate School of Management (then a joint venture between UNSW Sydney & The University of Sydney), completed on exchange to the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He then worked as a Consultant and Project Leader at The Boston Consulting Group, leading a number of strategy projects for Australian and global clients. Darren then joined Fairfax Media [ASX:FXJ], initially as Director, Commercial Strategy and subsequently as Group Head, New Media Development. During his time at Fairfax Media, he led the company’s digital M&A process, leading to some well-regarded acquisitions including RSVP, Stayz & Trade Me, plus an investment in carsales.com. He also served on the Board of an ASX-listed investment.

 

Over the years, Darren has also served on a number of commercial and community boards. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Hayes Theatre Co, a Sydney-based not-for-profit musical theatre company. Darren has twice been elected to the University Council at UNSW Sydney, its governing body, where he also served on the University’s Finance Committee, Planning Committee and as a Governor of its Alumni Association. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.