Painting
Movies
Music
Derek Duffy
Sydney
Summary
An experienced, results-driven senior executive with international experience across 4 continents who creates compelling visions, leads enterprise transformations and optimises businesses to deliver superior results through effective collaboration and leadership.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer, Global Business Services
Clyde & Co LLP
06.2023 - 07.2025
- Company Overview: Clyde & Co is a global law firm specialising in complex litigation across Insurance, Marine, Aviation, Construction, Energy and Renewables sectors. It has annual revenues of over US$1Bn and is the largest Insurance law firm in the world, with over 5000 people in over 70 offices worldwide.
- Reporting to the CEO, I led the Global Business Services and Global Transformation teams. I was responsible for the delivery of all enterprise transformation programmes, primarily the delivery of the Business Services Transformation programme to deliver cost savings through implementing centralized global business services. In this role I delivered the following:
- Led the implementation of the Global Business Services (GBS) operating model, with forecast annualised savings of $40m
- Built Glasgow GBS centre: recruited leadership team and oversaw migration of work from Finance, HR, IT and Legal Admin functions in Middle East and UK
- Optimised Kansas City office and transformed it into the North America GBS centre
- Implemented outsource strategy to establish APAC GBS centre in Manila
- Designed and implemented optimal processes in Finance, HR and Legal Admin functions that improved service quality to end users
- Implemented service management technology to facilitate remote service delivery.
Global Director of Organisational Transformation
Clyde & Co LLP
05.2021 - 06.2023
- Reporting to the CEO, I built and led the Global Transformation team. I was responsible for the delivery of all enterprise transformation programmes, and the redesign of all global business services functions within the organisation (circa 2500 people). In this role I delivered the following:
- Developed new operating model for global delivery of business services across Clyde & Co
- Built business case and secured board investment for Business Services Transformation (the largest transformation programme ever undertaken at Clyde & Co)
- Built global transformation function to deliver enterprise transformation programmes:
- Project and change management
- Business analysis
- Programme management office
- Introduced enterprise portfolio management model across all projects across Clyde & Co, including tracking and management of benefits realisation.
Chief Operating Officer, Australia & New Zealand
Clyde & Co LLP
01.2018 - 04.2021
- Reporting to the CEO, I led the Australia and New Zealand business and was responsible for the strategy and profitability of the region. In this role I delivered the following:
- Implemented turnaround strategy and transformed Australia & New Zealand business from loss-making to profitability in 12 months
- Grew Australian revenue by 67% to become the 3rd largest country after UK and USA
- Maintained ANZ profitability throughout my tenure as COO
- Grew Australia & NZ partnership by 50% over 3 years
- Increased fee earner utilisation to 2nd highest average globally through implementing workforce planning model
- Developed and implemented client management strategies to improve quality of key client relationships
- Grew ANZ cybersecurity practice that delivered revenue CAGR of 37% over 3 years
- Led all business services functions in Australia & New Zealand (Finance, HR, IT, Business Development, Facilities, Legal admin).
Chief Operating Officer, UK
Clyde & Co LLP
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Reporting to the CEO, I led the Australia and New Zealand business and was responsible for the strategy and profitability of the region. In this role I delivered the following:
- Led the merger of Clyde & Co and Simpson & Marwick, Scotland’s largest independent insurance law firm
- Integrated all business services functions (Finance, HR, IT, Legal admin, Business Development) to deliver integration synergies
- Rationalised unprofitable practices in 6 months to create a viable Scottish business
- Formed Scottish leadership board and developed Scottish strategy in line with UK Insurance strategy
- Led the UK Insurance Strategy Board
- Developed and implemented strategy for UK Insurance practice (the largest practice globally), delivering 15% revenue growth over 2 years
- Enhanced profitability within the UK insurance sector by implementing partner education initiatives, refining reporting processes, and providing targeted coaching to partners.
- Managed underperforming partners and practices to improvement or exit and replaced underperformers with higher revenue lateral hires.
- Managed business services—including Finance, HR, IT, Business Development, Facilities, and Legal admin—for UK North operations.
Head of HR
Westpac Banking Corporation / BT Financial Group
06.2013 - 01.2016
- Company Overview: BT Financial Group (BTFG) is Westpac’s wealth management division, delivering a comprehensive range of services including investment solutions, superannuation and retirement products, financial advisory, private banking, and insurance.
- Reporting to the HR Director, BTFG, I led the HR team that supported 2000 employees across the Product, Sales, Operations and Contact Centre businesses. I provided strategic and operational HR advice to General Managers on executive recruitment, performance management, remuneration, and employee relations. In this role I delivered the following:
- Implemented new operating model with annualised cost reduction across BTFG of circa $20m
- Improved sales productivity by 30% through improved sales capability and management
- Successful restructuring of board structures for BTFG, and resultant Non-Executive Director recruitment
- Design and implementation of bespoke fund manager remuneration scheme.
Head of Business Excellence
AMP Limited
01.2012 - 06.2013
- Company Overview: AMP Limited is an Australian financial services company that provides banking, super and retirement solutions in Australia and New Zealand.
- Reporting to the Integration Director – Operations, I was responsible for leading process improvement projects in the AMP Financial Services business including developing the business case, securing the investment required to implement and delivery of cost savings and service improvement. In this role I delivered the following:
- Implementation of multiple Lean process improvement projects
- Reducing project expenditure by $1m (33% of total budget) without compromising delivery of all projects
- Identification and realisation of circa $3.2m annual cost savings across AMP Operations
- Design and implementation of an improved mortgage application process from 15 days to 3 days, improving quality and customer satisfaction
- Design and implementation of an SMS proactive communication process, which reduced customer calls by 30%
- Developing a redesigned ‘shared services’ model for the AMP ‘Reinvent for Tomorrow’ strategic project, with proposed savings of circa $84m.
Head of Organisation Design and Talent
AMP Limited
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Reporting to the Integration Director, I designed and implemented the AMP organisation structure, including identifying, selecting, and retaining key talent during the AMP and AXA integration. In this role I delivered the following:
- Design of the interim and end-state operating model for AMP Financial Services (AFS)
- Design and implementation of the AFS organisation design, and appointment of all executive positions within the first 100 days of integration
- Review of organisation designs for 25 departments of AMP and AXA
- Identification and tracking of $35m in synergy savings
- Successful transition of organisation design to business ownership.
Head of HR - Product Manufacturing
AMP Limited
01.2010 - 01.2011
HR Strategy & Planning Manager
AMP Limited
07.2009 - 12.2010
Senior Management Consultant
Hewitt Associates
08.2007 - 07.2009
HR Strategy Manager
Suncorp
07.2004 - 08.2007
Learning & Development Manager
Suncorp
07.2003 - 07.2004
Leadership Consultant
Team Management Systems (TMS)
06.2002 - 07.2003
Marketing Coordinator
QAD Australia Pty Ltd
05.2001 - 06.2002
National Australia Bank / Standard Life Bank
01.1997 - 01.2001
- Various retail banking positions (including branch manager)
- Various Learning & Development roles
Education
Internal AMP executive leadership course
Melbourne Business School
01.2012
BA (Hons) - Marketing & Business Administration
University of Strathclyde
01.1997
Skills
- Leadership and mentoring
- Strategy development and execution
- Operational leadership
- Business process improvement
- Profitability enhancement
- Organizational transformation
- Technology enablement
- Programme leadership
- Organisation design
- Cultivating positive culture
- Executive stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional teamwork
Accomplishments
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Resolved product issue through consumer testing.
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
- Achieved [Result] by introducing [Software] for [Type] tasks.
- Collaborated with team of [Number] in the development of [Project name].
- Supervised team of [Number] staff members.
Interests
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer, Global Business Services
Clyde & Co LLP
06.2023 - 07.2025
Global Director of Organisational Transformation
Clyde & Co LLP
05.2021 - 06.2023
Chief Operating Officer, Australia & New Zealand
Clyde & Co LLP
01.2018 - 04.2021
Chief Operating Officer, UK
Clyde & Co LLP
01.2016 - 12.2017
Head of HR
Westpac Banking Corporation / BT Financial Group
06.2013 - 01.2016
Head of Business Excellence
AMP Limited
01.2012 - 06.2013
Head of Organisation Design and Talent
AMP Limited
01.2011 - 01.2012
Head of HR - Product Manufacturing
AMP Limited
01.2010 - 01.2011
HR Strategy & Planning Manager
AMP Limited
07.2009 - 12.2010
Senior Management Consultant
Hewitt Associates
08.2007 - 07.2009
HR Strategy Manager
Suncorp
07.2004 - 08.2007
Learning & Development Manager
Suncorp
07.2003 - 07.2004
Leadership Consultant
Team Management Systems (TMS)
06.2002 - 07.2003
Marketing Coordinator
QAD Australia Pty Ltd
05.2001 - 06.2002
National Australia Bank / Standard Life Bank
01.1997 - 01.2001
BA (Hons) - Marketing & Business Administration
University of Strathclyde
Internal AMP executive leadership course
Melbourne Business School
Hobbies and Interests
Running, reading, music, movies and spending time with my family.
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