ASHLEIGH JANE MCDONALD
Sydney
Summary
Experienced with business development, team leadership, and strategic planning. Utilizes innovative problem-solving and market analysis to drive company growth and success. Track record of building and leading cohesive teams, adapting to changing business landscapes, and delivering impactful results.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder & CEO
42 Private
06.2024 - Current
- Entrepreneurial and results-driven professional with 15+ years' experience supporting CEOs, senior executives, and high-stakes decision makers. Founder of 42 Private, an exclusive advisory and membership collective connecting global luxury brands, financial institutions, and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Recognised for autonomy, agility, and discretion in managing complex relationships and fast-moving projects, with a proven ability to deliver measurable outcomes in demanding, high-pressure environments. Skilled at anticipating executive needs, streamlining operations, and driving opportunities from concept through execution with a "go-getter’s" mindset.
- Post 6 month non-compete
General Manager
The Luxury Network Australia
07.2018 - 11.2023
- Created strategic alignments and partnerships with high-end luxury brands and financial services
- Developed personalised, comprehensive and strategic marketing plans for clients
- Provided direct access to (U)HNW prequalified clientele via established network and connections
- Curated bespoke experiences offering clients unique access to luxury surprise and delight events
- Provided strategic advice and support to build, develop and grow HNW channel via networking and prospecting opportunities
- Created new business partnerships between luxury brands, and facilitated joint marketing activities encouraging cross pollination of databases
- Created a partnering and referral culture to leverage members' assets including budgets and resources such as access to ambassadors, venues etc
- Achievements: Introduced a new revenue stream for the business by creating an individual membership (not just B2B) which had not been thought of (or implemented) globally
- Doubled total revenue in 2 years by increasing the total number of clients via established connections, as well as increasing the membership subscription fee made possible by improving offering and value for clients
- Year on year exceeded KPI quarterly targets of client renewals and acquisition
Client Relationship Executive
LVMH Group Moët Hennessy Australia
06.2016 - 06.2018
- Provided direct, bespoke and personalised access to global luxury brands for Private Clients nationally
- Created strategic opportunities implementing new sales initiatives, cultivating partnerships and implementing programmes to provide growth in channel
- Direct account management, support and development of commercial relationships with Moët Hennessy Australia's sister companies
- Built current network database of HNW and UHNW clientele and drove High Net Worth Individual engagement
- Developed processes and tools necessary to support both existing and new sales including price offering, product offering, presentation tools, required customer service support and ordering process
- Supported the Sales Director of Australia on an adhoc basis, specifically monitoring budgets, data analysis and forecasting
- Achievements: In 2017, through direct input, the Direct Private Client Channel delivered a successful result of 42.5% value growth
- Exceeded value budget working within A&P, T&E and NSI targets
- Delivered sales value growth of LVMH clients of +10%
Executive Assistant to the Directors
Boutique Boat Company
05.2015 - 05.2016
- Maintained and serviced client relationships
- Conducted inspections on luxury yachts with potential purchasers
- Diary, travel and schedule management for the CEOs and CFO
- Implemented new administrative systems to streamline processes and drive change through the organisation
- Maintained minutes and records of various meetings
- Processed correspondence, emails, telephone calls and ensured all matters were dealt with in a timely manner
- Organised events for the boat shows where responsible for directly engaging with all new potential purchasers as well as the vendors
Commercialisation Manager
Medlab
09.2012 - 12.2013
- Played an integral role managing new relationships with international pharmaceutical companies
- Assisted in the research and reporting on various health areas specific to the company's focus
- Analysed and reported various market trends
- Researched and reported risk models on the project's global environment
- Responsible for written content, including editing and proofing of the website
Logistics Manager & Sales Representative
Single Vineyard Sellers
07.2009 - 07.2012
- Liaised with suppliers/warehouses to monitor and control stock movement
- Studied trends of sales for ordering
- Conducted in-store wine tastings
- Client Relations – provided individual sales on a one-to-one basis either in the store or over the phone
- Ad-hoc sales and marketing responsibilities as required
Cellar Hand – Vintage
Villa Maria
05.2009 - 05.2009
- Selected alongside 10 other cellar hands to perform basic laboratory analysis
- Responsible for facilitating wine maturation
- Duties included racking, grape fermentation and transferring of wine
- Accurately completed cellar operation records and stock-takes
Sales Support & Marketing Officer
BioCeuticals
01.2007 - 02.2009
- Account and after sale relationship management
- Client liaison, speaking to clients, answering queries, managing accounts
- Contract administration
- Alongside the marketing team, assisted in developing campaign strategies and creative articulation for Facebook advertising campaign, resulting in a 50% increase in 'like' acquisition
- Oversaw creative production and ongoing optimisation for Google search and display ads, resulting in a 30% improvement overall
- Conducted SEO and social media audits, addressing key sources of positive and negative brand sentiment
- Led creative conceptualisation
Education
Scholarship - Philosophy & Linguistics
La Sorbonne
01.2014
Bachelor of Arts - French & Philosophy
University of Sydney
01.2014
Diploma of Screen & Media - undefined
Sydney Film School
01.2005
Higher School Certificate - undefined
SCEGGS Darlinghurst
01.2004
Skills
- Executive support with discretion and trusted judgment at C-suite level
- Agile operator, comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities
- Strong communicator and relationship-builder across CEOs, boards, investors, and (U)HNWIs
- Entrepreneurial problem solver with capacity to execute autonomously
- Experienced in project delivery, event execution, and stakeholder management
Accomplishments
- Founded and scaled 42 Private, managing all operations end-to-end and consistently delivering ROI for global luxury and financial clients
- Built and maintained a trusted network of senior executives, CEOs, and decision-makers, acting as a discreet and effective bridge between stakeholders
- Executed high stakes projects requiring rapid turnaround and flawless delivery, including multimillion dollar outcomes for clients
- Recognised for professionalism, agility, and capacity to create solutions under pressure by senior leaders across luxury, finance, and investment sectors
Certification
- TP3 Excel Training Course - Beginners | 2017
- Advanced Certificate 1, Advanced Certificate | Sydney Wine Academy WSET | 2011
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Languages: Proficient in French
Timeline
Founder & CEO
42 Private
06.2024 - Current
General Manager
The Luxury Network Australia
07.2018 - 11.2023
Client Relationship Executive
LVMH Group Moët Hennessy Australia
06.2016 - 06.2018
Executive Assistant to the Directors
Boutique Boat Company
05.2015 - 05.2016
Commercialisation Manager
Medlab
09.2012 - 12.2013
Logistics Manager & Sales Representative
Single Vineyard Sellers
07.2009 - 07.2012
Cellar Hand – Vintage
Villa Maria
05.2009 - 05.2009
Sales Support & Marketing Officer
BioCeuticals
01.2007 - 02.2009
Bachelor of Arts - French & Philosophy
University of Sydney
Diploma of Screen & Media - undefined
Sydney Film School
Higher School Certificate - undefined
SCEGGS Darlinghurst
Scholarship - Philosophy & Linguistics
La Sorbonne
Awards
Marion Macaulay Bequest Scholarship - University of Sydney, 2014, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Scholarship - University of Sydney, 2014, International Exchange Outbound Scholarship - University of Sydney, 2013, Accepted - Sorbonne University, Paris, 2013, Dean's List of Excellence in Academic Performance - University of Sydney, 2012, Published on the Honour Roll - Sydney Morning Herald, 2012, Walter Reid Memorial Prize - University of Sydney, 2011 & 2012, Accepted into scholarship programme - Science Po & Sorbonne, Paris, 2012, Student Writing Fellowship - University of Sydney, 2012 (prestigious cohort), NIDA Scholarship - National Institute of Dramatic Art, 2004 (one semester), Jordana Goodman Prize for Courage, Compassion & Courtesy - SCEGGS Darlinghurst, 2004
Hobbies and Interests
Public Speaking, Networking, Socialising, Sport, Academia, Theatre