Leigh Howard has 20 years of global experience including roles in government, international consulting, and industry chambers. He has worked and been based in the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and has spent the last 14 years in Malaysia. Leigh’s experience includes building industry and enterprise partnerships, and he is currently focused on growing businesses in Asia and Australia. He is also a regular speaker at industry events and universities on topics relating to international business and human capital.
Leigh is the CEO and Director of Sheffield Executive, an Asia-based talent solutions firm providing talent acquisition (recruitment) and talent development (training) services. Sheffield Executive works with the senior leadership of multinational companies and large local conglomerates to provide the human capital required to drive their businesses forward.
Leigh was previously Director, South Asia for Talent2 International Ltd, a company listed on the Australian stock exchange. Leigh founded the Kuala Lumpur office when he joined the company in 2006, and the Malaysian operations grew to more than 120 staff across executive recruitment, RPO, payroll, and psychometric assessment.
Before joining Talent2, Leigh spent 3 years as the Managing Director of an international executive search firm, in New Zealand and Malaysia. Prior to recruitment, Leigh worked for 4 years with the Australian federal government.
In 2014, Leigh was elected Chairman of the Malaysia Australian Business Council (MABC), the peak body for Australian-linked business in Malaysia. The MABC works in partnership with the governments of both countries, to grow the bilateral trade relationship. The MABC represents more than 700 organisations and individuals providing advice, promotion, and advocacy services.
Leigh is also a founding Board Member of Austcham ASEAN, a group of Australian business chambers in South-East Asia.
Leigh is Director of other companies including Tradingpost.com.au one of Australia’s biggest online classified portals receiving 1 million visitors per month and RecruitCheck.com.au, an eCommerce services business providing online pre-employment screening for employers.