• Boss
  • Updated Apr 17 2017 at 3:27 PM

Boss Young Executives alumni on how big companies keep their top performers

Michael Rebelo, chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and New Zealand and Publicis Communications ANZ.
Michael Rebelo, chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and New Zealand and Publicis Communications ANZ. Edwina Pickles
by Theo Chapman

Among the 78 alumni of the Boss Young Executives awards, just a handful have spent the bulk of their career with the same company.

This is hardly surprising, because Department of Employment figures show the average tenure for a job in Australia is three years and four months, which is a total of 17 employers between the ages of 18 and 75.

What distinguishes the experience of the Young Executives "lifers" is that they work for large organisations that can provide the range of challenges and opportunities that people generally switch employers to gain.

Michael Rebelo, chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi Australia and New Zealand, and one of the first Young Executives from 2004, celebrates 20 years with the global advertising company in May.

Amanda McCluskey, head of sustainability and responsible investment at Colonial First State Global Asset Management.
Amanda McCluskey, head of sustainability and responsible investment at Colonial First State Global Asset Management. Tamara Voninski

"Yes, I've been with Saatchis for 20 years," Rebelo says. "But I've worked with them in five different countries, so my experience hasn't been in the same office."

Amanda McCluskey, co-head of sustainable funds group Stewart Investors, and a 2010 alumna, has been with her employer for a decade.

'It feels like I have had 10 jobs!'

"While I have been with the same employer for 10 years, I have had lots of challenges and incredible opportunities to develop my skills across a range of roles," McCluskey says. "It feels like I have had 10 jobs!"

That breadth of opportunities is something Young Executives founding judge Bonnie Boezeman knows all about. She spent 23 years at media giant Time Warner.

Bonnie Boezeman, founding Boss Young Executives judge.
Bonnie Boezeman, founding Boss Young Executives judge. Edwina Pickles

"I always followed the popular adage, choose a job and company you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life," she says.

"I felt passionate about publishing, music, film and entertainment, and was blessed to work in several countries for the number one media company in the world."

Rebelo, who also heads Publicis Communications ANZ in addition to his role with Saatchi and is back for his sixth year as a Young Executives judge, says his tenure is not simply a question of loyalty.

"The crux of why I have stayed with Saatchis as long as I have is [the company's] belief in me and my talents," he says, "which has manifested itself in the opportunities they've given me.

"I've never been enticed away because they've always given me something bigger to move on to and really push me to my next stage."

Entries for Boss Young Executives 2017 close on April 28.