COO & GM Transformation | Enterprise Performance, Turnaround & Growth | Sydney-based
A commercially astute and highly credentialled executive leader with over 25 years of experience driving business transformation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth across complex, multi-brand organisations. Natalia brings a rare breadth of executive capability spanning operations, supply chain, retail, manufacturing, logistics, governance, and organisational capability, combined with the strategic depth and board-level presence to lead from the front in the most demanding environments.
A trusted partner to CEOs and Boards, she has led high-impact initiatives including business turnarounds, M&A integration, divestment preparation, crisis recovery, and large-scale restructuring, consistently delivering measurable outcomes where they matter most. Known for simplifying complexity, aligning executive teams behind clear priorities, and building the cultures and systems that allow organisations to perform through change and uncertainty.
GAICD qualified with a Master of Business, she brings governance credibility and academic rigour to complement a career defined by delivery.
Key Strengths & Experience:
- Business Turnaround and EBITDA Growth: Delivered more than $70M in EBITDA uplift through a disciplined five-pillar turnaround strategy across 22 initiatives, embedding enterprise-wide governance, prioritisation, and execution via a structured PMO, achieving budgeted EBITDA for two consecutive years in the process
- Enterprise Transformation and Operating Model Design: Extensive experience leading end-to-end transformation programs across retail, supply chain, digital, and corporate functions, including consolidating two manufacturing businesses into a single vertically integrated operation and increasing daily production capacity by 67%
- Operational Excellence and Risk Performance: Delivered significant improvements across operational safety and performance metrics, reducing LTIFR by 46%, lost hours by 65%, and workers’ compensation claims by 56% over five years through targeted, sustained risk interventions
- People, Culture and Leadership Capability: Built high-performance cultures with measurable outcomes, growing top sales performers from 19 to 103, retaining 97% of high performers, lifting employee engagement from 59% to 75%, and earning Great Place to Work accreditation for three consecutive years
- Board and Executive Partnership: Experienced Board-level advisor and executive team member, with direct accountability for governance, risk, Board reporting, and participation across Audit and Risk and Remuneration committees, bringing the presence, credibility, and judgement that senior leadership demands
- M&A, Integration and Transaction Readiness: Hands-on experience leading investor engagement, due diligence, and transaction preparation, partnering with CEOs and Executive Leadership Teams to articulate transformation and value creation narratives at the highest level
- Qualifications and Governance Credentials: GAICD, Master of Business, and AI Fluency and Governance certification from the University of Sydney and the Australian Institute of Company Directors
An exceptional executive leader who is available now and ready to partner with a CEO or Board to drive the next phase of transformation, growth, or performance improvement.
Additional Information:
- Permanent opportunity
- Salary expectations $250k +
- Sydney-based
- Available now
Want to meet this candidate? Contact James Purtell on 02 9220 3400 / 0423 700 837 or email
jamesp@coxpurtell.com.au
