CTPartners has hired former Yahoo!7 CEO Ian Smith as a partner for its Sydney office.

Smith will join the technology, media and telecoms practice of the Sydney office starting from July 1 and will lead the CEO and board and private equity practices in Australia.

Smith was named CEO of Yahoo!7 in 2006 however resigned a year later from the role.

Full release below.

CTPartners moves a number of steps closer to realising its ambition as Australia’s pre-eminent executive search firm

Sydney, June 5, 2014: Global executive search firm CTPartners today confirmed the appointment of Ian Smith, one of Australia’s most respected executive search consultants, as a partner in its Sydney office.

CTPartners’ Global Chief Executive Officer Brian Sullivan, who is visiting Australia this week, said he was thrilled to welcome Mr Smith, the first lateral partner appointment for the firm in Australia.

“I am delighted CTPartners has been able to attract a partner of Ian’s calibre,” Mr Sullivan said. “Ian is one of the best search consultants in the region and his addition to the CTPartners team will accelerate our plans to become the premier executive firm operating in Australia.”

Mr Smith is a former Chief Executive Officer of Yahoo!7 and The Communications Group, with more than 25 years of experience working with global media, marketing and technology companies in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States.

Most recently, he was a leading partner at another global firm specialising in Chief Executive Officer, Board, Media, Entertainment and Private Equity appointments. He will join the Technology, Media and Telecoms practice of CTPartners on July 1 and will also lead its Chief Executive Officer and Board and Private Equity practices in Australia.

Mr Smith’s appointment is one of several exciting developments in CTPartners’ Australian business.

CTPartners is continuing its ambitious expansion in the Asia Pacific region following the recent acquisition of Johnson, Australia’s leading independent executive search firm. The firm has recently signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Park Brown in Perth, which is anticipated to close in early July. This will bolster the firm’s Energy and Resources expertise with the addition of four new partners; Colin Simpson, Debbie Cozart, David Cowan and Beau Yorke.

Colin Simpson, a Partner of Park Brown, said he and his partners were pleased at the prospect of joining CTPartners at such an exciting time in the firm’s evolution.

“We are looking forward to harnessing the international reach of the CTPartners network to deliver the best results for Park Brown’s clients,” Mr Simpson said. “We were attracted to the company due to the extraordinarily client centric culture and its reputation for quality and transparency, all of which closely align with Park Brown’s culture.”