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Spotlight on our Asia Pacific Team

For many CEOs and CHROs, the Asia Pacific region continues to take centre-stage for business expansion and development opportunities. For the past few years, Asia Pacific has been playing a pivotal role in exporting high-potential and top-leadership HR talent into global and group roles. Since our inception in 2008, ChapmanCG has been at the forefront in this dynamic region, partnering with both complex multinationals and start-ups to build and strengthen their HR capabilities. To enhance these efforts, ChapmanCG has recently welcomed several new colleagues to our team. We are delighted to introduce them to you:

Kalkin Cao

Senior Director, China

Kalkin is based in Shanghai and is responsible for leading ChapmanCG’s domestic business in mainland China. Kalkin enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends.

Lorraine Hwang

Senior Associate, China

Lorraine is based in Shanghai. She has been working in search for over three years with a focus on mainland China. She is an outdoor enthusiast who hopes to explore more of the world in the future.

Simon Elsom

Senior Director, Japan & Korea

Simon has been in Japan for 25 years and is based in Tokyo. He is responsible for leading ChapmanCG’s business in Japan and South Korea. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family in the great outdoors and can be spotted on long, early morning cycle rides around Tokyo and the surrounding area.

Dee Karsan

Director, Japan & Korea

Dee is originally from London and moved to Tokyo in 2015 where he has specialised in HR search and recruitment for seven years. In his spare time, he plays pool and enjoys regular rounds of golf. He has a passion for food and enjoys cooking in his spare time.

Hiro Azuma

Director, Japan & Korea

Hiro is based in Tokyo with over 10 years of experience in search. Outside of work, he loves to play sports. He also gets plenty of exercise chasing his three young sons!

Devijaya Nair

Associate Director, Hong Kong SAR

Devijaya (DJ as she is popularly known), is based in Hong Kong. She has held corporate Talent Acquisition roles for the past 12 years and is enjoying her transition into executive search. Her interests include travelling, exploring different cuisines, and performing to Bollywood and folk songs.

Prachi Desai

Director, India & South East Asia

Prachi is based in Mumbai and has worked in search for eight years in India and Japan. She is a proud mother, a foodie and loves to travel.

Fleur Daniell

Director, Singapore

Fleur has worked in the executive search and recruitment industry for over 15 years. Originally from the UK, she has worked in New York, London, Hong Kong, and is currently based in Singapore. Having taken part in ultra-marathons in places such as Nepal and Lijiang, she is looking for her next endurance challenge.

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Key Contributors:

Fleur Daniell
Fleur Daniell

Director

Consulting Team
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Fleur Daniell
Consulting Team

Fleur Daniell

Director

Fleur is a Director with ChapmanCG based in Hong Kong. With over 15 years of experience across the APAC and London markets, she works with the APAC team to identify high-potential HR talent and lead senior HR leadership searches across the region and globally, with particular emphasis on Singapore and Hong Kong markets.

Before joining ChapmanCG, Fleur worked for a Fortune 100 Commercial Real Estate company, specialising in the Singapore and South East Asia Professional Services sector, emphasising the Human Capital Management Consultancies, Commercial Real Estate and Legal industries.

Passionate about facilitating career development, Fleur is an advocate of the Human Resources function and its’ ability to attract, manage and develop high-calibre talent.

Originally from the UK, Fleur has worked in New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore. In her spare time, Fleur loves participating in x3-day ultra-marathons in places such as Nepal and Lijiang. In Hong Kong, you’ll find her hiking along the MacLehose Trail, playing tennis and taking a keen interest in horse racing.

EA Registration Number: R1764804 Licence Number: 08S3543
Kalkin Cao
Kalkin Cao

Senior Director

Consulting Team
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Kalkin Cao
Consulting Team

Kalkin Cao

Senior Director

Kalkin is a Senior Director with ChapmanCG based in Shanghai and responsible for leading ChapmanCG’s domestic business in mainland China. He partners with CHROs and CEOs from Multinationals, startups, and Chinese Enterprises to recruit exceptional HR leaders and high-potential talent across every industry sector.

With over a decade of expertise in HR search and consulting, Kalkin brings in-depth market insights and observations during the rapid evolution of the Human Resources profession in China.

Kalkin is passionate about helping both HR leaders and emerging HR talent to unlock their true potential and fulfil their career ambitions by opening career opportunities aligned to their values.

Born and raised in Shanghai, Kalkin is a citizen of the world and enjoys travelling, as well as spending quality time with his family and friends.

Dee Karsan
Dee Karsan

Director

Consulting Team
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Dee Karsan
Consulting Team

Dee Karsan

Director

Dee Karsan is a Director with the ChapmanCG team based in Japan. He has over six years of recruitment experience across Asia Pacific and Japan.

Prior to joining Chapman CG, Dee worked as a Senior Consultant focussing on senior-level HR searches including HR Head/Directors, HR Business Partners and Heads in specialised functional COE areas. He has worked across all industries with particular success in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology.

Originally from London, Dee relocated to Japan in 2015. When he is not recruiting, he enjoys playing a variety of sports and has a strong passion for food, exploring different cuisines as well as cooking and is also a keen pool player.

Simon Elsom
Simon Elsom

Managing Director

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Simon Elsom
Consulting Team

Simon Elsom

Managing Director

Originally from the UK, Simon has lived in Japan for the past 25 years, having worked his entire career as both an HR practitioner and recruitment search leader. Prior to ChapmanCG, he worked for two leading recruitment firms specialising in searches across the full range of HR disciplines in mid-to-senior management level roles. He has also built leading recruitment teams having been responsible for the direct leadership, training and development of up to 40 recruitment consultants and led international business development activities. Based in Tokyo, Simon leads our ChapmanCG team in Japan.

Simon is passionate about HR and best practice selection processes and helps to match top HR practitioners with leading global organisations for the Japan and APAC markets. He has a Masters Degree in Human Resources Management & Development from The University of Manchester, and is a member of both the CIPD and SHRM. He actively participates in HR industry and networking events in Japan and has a strong network and followership within the Japan HR and business community. He has particular expertise in advising global organisations on effective recruitment strategies to help them navigate the challenges of recruiting in Japan and has assisted numerous organisations successfully enter the local market.

In 2021 Simon received the Outstanding HR & Recruitment Professional of the Year Award at the Recruit International / TALiNT International Annual Recruitment Awards.

Living with his wife and two children, in his free time Simon is a keen cyclist, enjoys running and supporting various good causes and charitable events amongst the international community in Tokyo.

Hiro Azuma
Hiro Azuma

Director

Consulting Team
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Hiro Azuma
Consulting Team

Hiro Azuma

Director

Hiro Azuma is a Director at ChapmanCG Japan. He has worked in recruitment for nearly ten years sourcing senior professionals for key positions across all business sectors in Japan and across Asia Pacific.

Before joining ChapmanCG, Hiro built his network across a broad range of industries in both contingent and retained searches. He is passionate in helping companies across Japan and Asia Pacific build for future success by hiring the right talent to their business and cultural objectives.

Hiro was born in Japan, but grew up in the US and has spent his professional career in Japan.  Away from his desk, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family.

Lorraine Hwang
Lorraine Hwang

Associate Director

Consulting Team
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Lorraine Hwang
Consulting Team

Lorraine Hwang

Associate Director

Lorraine is a Senior Associate based in Shanghai. She works closely with the APAC team to identify top HR talent across Asia, with a particular focus on mainland China.

Prior to joining the recruitment industry three years ago, Lorraine had developed a strong interest in organisational and people development and this has become a perfect career to balance her passion and professional development.

Born and raised in Guangzhou, Lorraine has spent the last eight years living and working in Shanghai. She speaks fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. She is a fitness enthusiast and is a regular Cross-Fitter. She also enjoys reading, hiking and socialising with her friends.

 

Devijaya Nair
Devijaya Nair

Director

Consulting Team
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Devijaya Nair
Consulting Team

Devijaya Nair

Director

Devijaya (DJ) Nair is a Director with ChapmanCG based in Hong Kong. She partners with CHROs across industries to identify and successfully hire top-HR talent pan-Asia, with a specific focus on the Hong Kong, Southeast and South Asia markets. Prior to joining ChapmanCG, Devijaya specialised in HR business partnering and talent acquisition within the private banking, general insurance and retail sectors in Mumbai, India.

Born and raised in Mumbai, India; Devijaya relocated to Hong Kong in 2018 with her husband and son. She has a Postgraduate in Human Resource Management and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management with honours in Marketing from Mumbai University. Outside of work, Devijaya enjoys travelling, exploring different cuisines and performing Bollywood & Folk dance. She is trained in an Indian Classical Dance form called Bharatanatyam.

Licence Number: EA License 69316 (HK)
Prachi Desai
Prachi Desai

Director

Consulting Team
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Prachi Desai
Consulting Team

Prachi Desai

Director

Prachi Desai is a Director at ChapmanCG based in India. As part of the Asia Pacific team, Prachi works to deliver best-in-class HR leadership talent for organisations in India and Southeast Asia.

With an MBA in Human Resources, Prachi started her recruitment career as a Talent Acquisition Manager at an Indian Insurance company in Mumbai. For two years she was responsible for mid to senior level recruitment across all functions. She then relocated to Japan and worked as a Principal Consultant based in Tokyo specialising in senior talent across FMCG, Retail and Hospitality sectors for over 6 years, before moving back to India.

Prachi enjoys spending time with her daughter, loves to explore different cuisines, enjoys reading fiction and travelling.