Meet & Greet

Hayley James

Hayley is the Founder and Director of Ampersand Executive.

With formal qualifications in a Bachelor of Arts (Services Marketing), Hayley presents with twelve years of experience in Consumer Marketing, Executive Recruitment and Management.

In 2000, after working as the Marketing Communications Manager for an international consumer goods company, Hayley was approached to join a global recruitment organisation as a Marketing & Corporate Affairs Recruiter. Hayley specialised in delivering permanent and contract appointments to the Financial Services and Energy / Resources sectors.

After being nominated for multiple performance and service delivery awards, Hayley was soon promoted to a management role. She had responsibility for leading a large team of consultants across both permanent and contract recruitment within the Sales, Marketing & Communication practice.

In 2005, Hayley was approached by a global Executive Recruitment and Search firm to run their Marketing & Corporate Affairs recruitment business in Melbourne with specialisation in the banking & finance, energy, professional services, not for profit and government sectors.

After seven years working within the industry as an Executive Search Consultant and Senior Manager, Hayley's entrepreneurial drive and passion for people consulting, kicked into another gear.

Ampersand Executive was born.

Officially launched on 1 July 2008, Hayley has appointed and partnered with only the very best, senior consultants, all renowned experts in their respective markets. Hayley will never compromise on the talent she appoints into Ampersand Executive, with the same philosophy applying to the organisations and clients she represents.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah is a Senior Partner at Ampersand Executive and an original founder of the business.

Sarah Wilson has been a Senior Consultant with two of Australia's highly regarded global recruitment and executive search businesses. Sarah has been responsible for delivering senior management and executive appointments across the services sector in Melbourne and Sydney.

Sarah's reputation has been built on her ability to establish and sustain long term business partnerships with an uncompromising commitment to delivering superior service to clients and candidates alike.

Degree qualified in a Bachelor of Business (Marketing), Sarah brings over twelve years of combined experience in Marketing and Executive Recruitment. Prior to commencing her recruitment career, Sarah worked in Marketing for Foster's and Legal & General in the UK. Sarah's industry experience in Marketing, combined with her strong service ethic and passion for the recruitment industry, allows her to understand the specific requirements of her clients and candidates.

Sarah's specialisation is sourcing and placing Senior Executive and Mid-Management appointments across the disciplines of Marketing, Corporate Affairs and Strategy. She has recruited extensively across the financial services, energy / resources, government and telecommunications sectors.

Presenting with passion and drive, Sarah is highly motivated, dedicated to her clients and candidates and driven by excellence.

Lloyd Lazaro

As General Manager of Ampersand Executive, Lloyd combines over 12 years of commercial sales and marketing experience with five years in Executive Recruitment. Lloyd presents with Post Graduate qualifications in Business Administration (Marketing) and International Development (Leadership).

Prior to joining Ampersand Executive, Lloyd led the Sales and Marketing team for a global Executive Recruitment and Search business across the FMCG, Retail and Consumer sectors.

Lloyd's commercial experience commenced in 1990 when he joined Pacific 7 Pty Ltd (7 Eleven) in a Franchise Development capacity.

In 1993, Lloyd commenced with World Vision Australia. Over the course of the next four years, he developed strategic cross-functional outcomes across the organisation specifically in Strategic Marketing, Corporate Development and Youth Marketing. Lloyd progressed to the key position of Corporate Business Development Manager where he pioneered an array of innovative commercial and retail activities for several blue chip corporations, both on a domestic and international scale.

At World Vision, Lloyd's strategic and insightful attributes positioned him to add significant value to General Managers, CEO's and Board Members across the FMCG, Banking & Finance, Durable Goods, Resources and Retail sectors.

After 10 years characterised by significant personal, corporate and community achievement, Lloyd rounded off his commercial experience at the BMW Group.

Given his commercial acumen, Lloyd is a passionate people leader; committed to fostering long term partnerships and building true leadership capacity within the FMCG, Retail and Consumer sectors and beyond.

Anna Carlisle

Graduating with a Bachelor of Business, Anna commenced her career in Human Resources with international hotel chains prior to entering the Executive Recruitment industry in 1999.

Anna joined a global recruitment brand and was promoted to Manager within the Technology Division after a two year period. In 2004, Anna commenced with an executive boutique recruitment firm, focusing on senior permanent Marketing and Corporate Affairs appointments. By 2006, Anna was appointed Associate Director in the business and led the Financial Services practice across the Sydney marketplace.

Appointed as Principal Consultant, Anna joined Ampersand Executive in August 2008 to specialise in the delivery of Interim Management and Executive Contract appointments across the Marketing and Corporate Affairs disciplines. Given Anna's extensive knowledge of the financial services market nationally, she specialises in delivering Executive appointments to the industry Australia-wide.

Anna presents with an exceptionally strong service ethic and holds long standing relationships with her candidates and clients who truly value her insight and advice.

Endria Frydman

Degree qualified with a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and Bachelor of Arts (Japanese), Endria began her career on the acclaimed Graduate Program at Hewlett-Packard where she remained for over four years. During this time, Endria (Endi) moved into the Sales Division as an Account Manager with responsibility for key telecommunications accounts such as Telstra and Primus. Endi's strong consulting and account management experience developed at HP, allowed her to transfer these skills to the Executive Recruitment industry.

So it is here that Endi embarked on her recruitment career. She was approached to join a global recruitment organisation in the Sales, Marketing and Communication Practice where she specialised in contract recruitment. Endi focused her service delivery on the Energy, Water, Telco, IT and Resources sectors recruiting Marketing and Communication contract positions in the salary range of $65,000 to $200,000.

After having her second child, Endi was appointed to a large scale marketing recruitment project for the Telstra Consumer business.

As a highly respected past colleague of Hayley James', Endi was approached to join the experienced and reputable team at Ampersand Executive. Endi continues to specialise in the delivery of Interim Management and Executive Contract appointments across the Government, Energy, Not for Profit , Water and Resources industries.

Susie Farrell

With formal qualifications in a Bachelor of Business Studies and a Masters of Marketing, Susie presents with over six years experience in Executive Recruitment in Australia and the Middle East. Susie has been recognised as a highly passionate and committed Senior Recruitment Professional delivering executive level permanent and contract appointments across Corporate Affairs, Marketing Communications and Human Resources.

In 2004, after a period of working in Account Management and Business Development roles within the services sector, Susie began her career in Executive Recruitment with a Global Recruitment Firm in Melbourne and focused on executive contracting appointments within the Government and Services sectors for mid to senior level Communications appointments.

In 2006, Susie was approached by another Global Executive and Search firm to further build their executive contracting business for which she successfully developed a strong reputation as a premier consultant in Corporate Affairs and Marketing Communications. Susie consistently partnered with businesses such as the ANZ Banking Group, NAB, Sensis and Fosters, and broadly across State Government Departments.

Susie’s next appointment saw her transition to Dubai (UAE). She joined a Global Recruitment Firm where she specialised in HR and managed senior appointments for both generalist and specialist HR functions across all industries. Susie’s remit spanned the breadth of the Gulf region; delivering consulting services to multinationals and local companies.

Following a two year tenure in Dubai, Ampersand Executive was delighted to welcome Susie back into the Australian Market. Susie will specialise in Human Resources and Communications where she will continue to deliver best practice executive recruitment and consulting services to the public and corporate sectors. Combining her expertise in these respective markets and impeccable service, she will continue to drive long lasting business partnerships on behalf of the Ampersand Executive business.

Victoria Smart

Presenting with over 7 years of Executive Recruitment experience in the UK and Australia, Victoria is a highly dedicated and passionate Senior Consultant with an impeccable reputation for best practice recruitment delivery.

Victoria specialises in Executive Contracting and Interim Management appointments across the Marketing and Corporate Affairs disciplines. She has breadth of experience operating across a range of industries with expertise in financial and professional services, banking, FMCG/consumer and energy/resources. Victoria prides herself on building long standing, trusted relationships with her clients, candidates and contractors alike. She is known for her engaging, committed and genuine personality and operates with transparency, honesty and integrity. Equally, Victoria is known for the strength of her networks across the Sydney marketing and communications arena; whether it is appointing a Head of Communication with one of the Banks to a Senior Campaign Manager across broader consumer marketing portfolios.

Prior to her appointment at Ampersand Executive as a Principal Consultant (Marketing & Communications) leading our Sydney Executive Contracting Practice, Victoria’s recruitment career began in the UK working within the Healthcare industry. With a keen interest to focus on the corporate sector, Victoria made a deliberate move into Marketing and Corporate Affairs recruitment in London with a boutique firm. Victoria worked as a Senior Consultant focusing on B2B and B2C contracting appointments from mid-management to senior executive levels.

In March 2008, Victoria made the permanent move to Sydney and worked with a respected boutique Executive Recruitment organisation for just under two years, allowing her to develop an extensive network of client and candidate relationships across her areas of expertise. Victoria largely focused on the financial and professional services sectors, with which she continues to operate across today.

In October 2009, Ampersand Executive was delighted to welcome Victoria into the firm as a reputable and best practice Principal Consultant to lead the Sydney Executive Contracting business. Victoria continues to deliver executive recruitment and consulting services across the marketing and communications discipline within financial and professional services, energy/resourcing, government and FMCG/consumer sectors.

Leah Towers

Leah brings to the Ampersand team a strong background in administration and excellence in customer service. Leah presents with three and a half years administration experience, of which two and a half years have been in the executive recruitment industry.

Leah commenced her administration career with a boutique design agency as Account Coordinator, working with clients such as Cadbury Schweppes, Lion Nathan and Lend Lease. She then joined one of Australia's largest publicly listed recruitment firms, supporting the Financial Services Team as Recruitment Coordinator. Initially recruited to support a team of five consultants, Leah soon took on the role of Coordinator - Professional Division and supported a team of thirteen consultants.

Prior to joining Ampersand Executive, Leah supported the Marketing & Communications team with a global Executive Recruitment and Search firm.

Leah is a highly professional, dependable and friendly person - nothing is too much trouble. Her administrative and organisational abilities are second to none. Leah is an excellent ambassador for the Ampersand business and is the key point of contact for clients, candidates and the Ampersand contracting team.

Leah ensures the smooth running of the Ampersand office, both front and back end. Her team couldn't be as successful as they are without her extraordinary support.