Fractional Expert Melbourne, Australia

Luke - Advisory | Executive | NED

At Maestro, we know there’s more to life than work. In fact, it’s the experiences, relationships and pursuits we have outside of work that can often give us an edge in what we do each day. We host an interview series called “Meet the Maestro” where we interview our Maestros and get an insight to who they really are and what makes them tick - beyond the CV.

Luke is a high-impact C-suite leader who thrives where growth, complexity and big decisions collide. With 25 years of experience leading businesses across Australia, the UK, China, Hong Kong and South East Asia, he brings calm, clarity and momentum when the stakes are high. Known for turning vision into action, Luke blends sharp commercial and financial insight with deeply trusted relationships, helping boards, founders and leadership teams grow, integrate acquisitions and protect shareholder value through periods of change. From scaling global brands and delivering landmark go-to-market strategies to lifting performance across listed, private equity and family-owned businesses, he’s energised by building great teams, shaping strong culture and unlocking sustainable growth;  all while keeping people, product and purpose at the heart of the business.

1. Tell us about a career highlight to date…

Upon Swisse Wellness being acquired for AUD$1.5B by a Chinese multi-national diversified consumer conglomerate – GROWTH was agenda item #1. So, I relocated my family to Guangzhou on Day 1.

Being empowered to i) design then launch the go-to-market (GTM) strategy, ii) recruit a tri-lingual (Mandarin, Cantonese, English) dispersed team across Hong Kong , mainland China and Australia then iii) lead the post-acquisition integration toward achieving USD$350M within 2yrs.

Exhausting and Exhilarating in equal measure. Indeed, a personal career highlight and humbling privilege to lead such a unique team!

2. Talk us through an unusual career choice you’ve made along the way…

As a Graduate at Arthur Andersen (later Ernst & Young), I was a fortunate secondee to work for the Sultan of Brunei on the island of Borneo, Asia. My initial 2 month mandate extended to 2 years given the complexity and scale of the sovereign wealth funds fiscal circumstances.

Having just left university, it was a magnificent immersion into international trade, commerce and diplomacy – guided by exceptionally talented global leaders whom I remain close with today.

3. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Ha - I’m still young at heart.

From my blended country/city heritage, I’ve always been passionate about promoting ‘brand Australia’ internationally. So, leading a commercial career path advocating for our Australian businesses on the world stage was what I wanted to do – and have since done.

Either that or being an F1 driver for Ferrari.

4. What are your passions outside of work and how do you make time for them?

Competing in endurance sporting events around the globe has been a focus throughout my life (English Channel, Ironman, Mt Everest basecamp, Ultra marathons, etc). I’ve completed in a major event for 22 successive years. Identifying an event with a small group of talented training partners, dedicating ourselves to a disciplined training program, immersing ourselves in mother nature and then executing toward a shared milestone.

Put simply, the preparation process is so familiar, time finds itself. My family are hugely supportive. Long may it continue…

5. If you could instantly master any skill or hobby, what would it be and why?

“Can you summon your talent at will? Can you deliver on a deadline?” This line from ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ has always resonated with me.

In short, I’m highly networked because I have a great interest in fostering relationships. Harnessing, then unlocking people’s unique skills is something I’m focused on to achieve an outcome. As a natural networker, my mastery has been to join the dots when opportunity presents.

6. What’s a personal value or belief that guides the way you live your life?

Curiosity. Having established an expansive cross border career path, across various sectors and sized businesses, my ability to ask the 5 why’s has permitted me to break down communication and commercial barriers and strike at the heart of a matter.

7. What’s a challenge you’ve overcome outside of work that shaped you?

Oscillating between publicly listed enterprise corporates and privately owned mid-cap businesses – whilst transitioning cross borders has presented endless challenges personally and professionally over my journey.

As Board’s today look for diversity in thinking and experience – I believe my time at Marks & Spencer and Wesfarmers has been a terrific foundation to deploy exemplary life experience and commercial operational discipline into SME’s scaling for growth in a privately owned environment.

8. What do you think your job will look like in 10 years time?

Being an effective and impactful Advisor to a Family Office, HNW individual or PE firm will largely rely upon the same fundamental principles in 10 years as it does today. Trust, Talent & Timing.

Of course, the manner in which these are deployed/harnessed will invariably have changed by way of technology, regulatory changes and/or governmental factors. But at the heart of client’s motivation for my Advisory support will be: Trust, Talent & Timing.

As such, these are the factors in my control that I’ll focus exclusively upon. Now, and in the future.

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and what would you do?

India, with my family.

We’d travel from the northern Himalayan peaks, south to the palm coves of the Keralan waters.

10. What does success look like to you?

Early in my career, I learnt to goal set based upon four (4) fundamental pillars that navigate my direction: i) Personal Health/Wellbeing ii) Family iii) Net Wealth iv) Profession. As such, ‘success looks like’ forward momentum on the individual goals I set annually against each of these pillars – and the reliable recurring review of them on a routine basis to ensure there is balance across all four (4) concurrently.