Marking a 15-year milestone with any organization is an occasion worth pausing for—especially when that journey has spanned multiple countries, countless client partnerships, and transformative leadership roles. We sat down with Sushil Patil, Managing Director of Boyd & Moore Australia & New Zealand, to reflect on a career that began in research and evolved into regional leadership.
From early days at BMIC, where the fast-paced environment offered a crash course in Executive Search, to building practices across Asia and expanding the firm’s footprint into Australia, Sushil shares candid insights on the moments that shaped his path. With a deep appreciation for mentorship and a clear vision for the future, we look back at a rich professional journey and a glimpse of what lies ahead for Boyd & Moore in the dynamic APAC landscape.
Let’s start at the beginning—what first brought you to Boyd & Moore, and what do you remember most about those early days?
I joined Boyd & Moore through BMIC as a researcher, excited by the opportunity to be part of a growing, entrepreneurial firm that was approaching Executive Search in a different way. BMIC was like a school for me—an intense but rewarding environment where I had the chance to learn directly from international consultants and build a strong foundation in retained search.
Those early days were fast-paced and full of learning. I supported searches in Japan and was fortunate to be involved in some of our first roles outside the country, including placements in Singapore, Korea, China, and Indonesia. That early exposure gave me a broader perspective on the region and helped me understand the nuances of working across diverse and often complex markets. I’m especially grateful to our founders and our APAC leadership team, who gave me the trust, mentorship, and room to grow from the very beginning.
Early exposure gave me a broader perspective on the region and helped me understand the nuances of working across diverse and often complex markets.
Over the past 15 years, what have been some of the standout moments or milestones that shaped your journey with the company?
There have been many meaningful milestones. Helping to build our Technology and Industrial practices across Asia was an exciting phase. I worked on several complex leadership mandates in emerging markets and had the chance to support clients with market entry and scale-up strategies.
Relocating to Singapore in 2014 was a key turning point. At the time, it was a small office with minimal brand presence, and building the business there taught me a lot about persistence, relationships, and trust. Around 2016, I also started leading searches for Australia from Singapore, which gradually grew into a strong and consistent stream of work.
Over the years, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with many talented colleagues across markets, and I’ve often been a go-to colleague for advice, guidance, or simply as someone who’s been in the trenches. That sense of shared journey and trust has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career so far.
How did you approach the transition into your current role as Managing Director ANZ, and what have been some key challenges or learnings in leading the team there?
The move to Australia felt like a natural next step. Having worked on Australian mandates from Singapore since 2016, setting up a local office was a strategic move to be closer to our clients, build new relationships, and create a stronger foothold in the market.
Having worked on Australian mandates from Singapore since 2016, setting up a local office was a strategic move to be closer to our clients.
I treated the role as an opportunity to build something meaningful, focusing on delivering quality, hiring thoughtfully, and growing step by step. One of the key challenges has been building brand recognition in a mature and highly competitive market. But the learning has been invaluable: stay consistent, listen to clients, and lead with value.
Building a culture grounded in trust and accountability has also been central to how we’re shaping the team here. I’ve leaned heavily on the values instilled by our founders and mentors—long-term thinking, client-first execution, and developing people.
What excites you most about the future of Boyd & Moore in the APAC region, and what are you hoping to achieve in the next chapter of your career?
What excites me most is the scale of opportunity across APAC. Leadership hiring is evolving rapidly, and clients are looking for true partners who can navigate complexity and deliver with precision. I believe BMES is uniquely positioned to meet that need with our integrated model and regional depth.
Leadership hiring is evolving rapidly, and clients are looking for true partners who can navigate complexity and deliver with precision.
Looking ahead, I’m focused on further growing our presence in Australia, helping companies to enter the market, and Australian HQ companies to collaborate with our other offices for their needs in APAC. I aim to continue to deepen our client partnerships, and invest in the next generation of leadership.
I see the next chapter as a chance to scale what we’ve built—while staying anchored in the core values and vision our CEO & Co-founder Tony Moore set from day one.
If you had to describe your 15 years at Boyd & Moore in just three words, what would they be—and why?
Growth. Grit. Gratitude.
Growth—because every phase of the journey has brought new challenges and new opportunities to evolve.
Grit—because building businesses, markets, and teams takes sustained effort and resilience.
Gratitude—because I’ve had the opportunity to grow alongside incredible people and contribute to something meaningful thanks to the support and belief of those who came before me.
So, here’s to the next decade, in which we move forward with grit, continue our growth, and carry gratitude for the journey so far.
Written By
Megan Casson
Senior Marketing Specialist
Sushil Patil
Senior Vice President & Managing Director ANZ