About Us

Swann Global was founded by John Murray in 1993 as a senior executive search business with a focus on the natural resources sector. From humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia, the company grew to be global in scope and presence, represented at various times in places as diverse as Santiago, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, Mexico City, Toronto, Moscow and London.

Swann Global continued to expand its expertise and capabilities, providing executive search and consulting services to a wide variety of clients in mining, oil and gas, finance, engineering and other professional services sectors. Our global client list includes a wide variety of organisations, such as BHP, Trafigura, Ma’aden, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Vale, CITIC, Thales, Worley Parsons, Glencore, Boeing, Rio Tinto, Sohar Aluminium, Alcoa, Austrade, Bechtel, Qantas, Newcrest, Petrofac, Outokumpu and Polyus.

In 2020, Swann Global re-branded as Swann, and we launched sister company Cygnet, leading to the creation of the Swann Group. In 2021, the Group expanded further with the addition of Skein.

With Cygnet’s ability to provide site-based management to the mining sector, Swann’s cross-industry senior executive search and board support, and Skein’s expert advisory services, the Swann Group is a key strategic partner for leading global organisations providing the materials, energy and infrastructure that make the world work.

21st April 1993

John Murray founds Swann Global in Melbourne, based in Swann House on William Street.

1996 – 2000

WMC Resources engages Swann Global as a key partner to lead a programme placing several hundred key employees in their organisation.

1998

A representative office is opened in Toronto.

2001

Swann Global is the founding principal sponsor of the Melbourne Mining Club.

2001

Bexton is established as a sister company to Swann Global, providing contract labour. The business was sold in 2007.

2002 – 2008

Alcoa engages Swann Global as a strategic advisor and search partner on the business’s top 250 roles.

2003

Swann Global establishes itself in Asia with an office in Shanghai, with representation in Singapore and Hong Kong to follow.

2004

A representative office is opened in London.

2005

Swann Global incorporates a subsidiary business in Canada.

2006

Swann Global’s headquarters moves from Swann House to the AMP Tower in Melbourne.

2007

The Melbourne Mining Club hosts its first dinner in London, with Swann Global as sponsor.

2010

The Melbourne Mining Club hosts its first event in Shanghai, with Swann Global as partner. 2013 sees the organisation’s first event in Beijing.

2011

Swann Global upgrades to a central, globally accessible database.

2012

We establish an office in Santiago, Chile, covering the entire South American market.

2013

Swann Global’s headquarters moves to the IBM Tower on Southbank, Melbourne.

2014

“Unearthing Wisdom” is published by Swann Global to celebrate our 21st birthday, providing in-depth interviews with 20 global leaders from the mining industry. Proceeds from the sale of this book were donated to charity.

2014

Lorraine Meldrum is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Swann Global, having previously served as Managing Director of the company’s Australian business.

2014

Swann Global establishes a subsidiary business in the UK covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

2014 – 2015

Swann Global is Executive Search Partner for the International Mining and Resources Conference.

2014 – 2016

We partner with Anglo American on the reorganisation of their Technical & Sustainability unit.

2015

Swann Global, with partners Investec and HRascent, releases the first edition of The REM Report, outlining remuneration practices at the world’s top mining companies.

2016

Our headquarters moves to the BHP building in Melbourne.

2017

Swann Global’s UK business moves to new offices in More London Riverside.

2018

We establish a representative office in Lima.

2018

Swann Global first partners with Mining Journal on the Global Leadership Report.

2018

We begin our partnership with a leading global supplier of corporate data to accelerate our search and consulting services.

2019

John Larpent is appointed to develop Cygnet, a new business to sit alongside Swann Global. Lorraine Meldrum becomes Group CEO.

2020

Swann Global relaunches as Swann with all new branding, to focus on senior executive search, board services, and consulting. Nona Sichinava is made Managing Director in October 2020.

2020

Cygnet is launched as a site-based management search firm, with John Larpent as Managing Director.

2020

Cygnet and Swann now sit under the Swann Group, headquartered in the UK, with Tom Harris as Group CEO and Lorraine Meldrum as Group Chairman.

2021

Skein is launched as a strategic and change management advisory firm, with Tom Aldridge as Managing Director.

2023

Swann celebrates its 30th Anniversary.

2023

Swann founder John Murray is awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy