Transitioning to an HR leadership role in a start-up

Katherine is a Senior Director with ChapmanCG, based in Singapore. She works with the global team to identify top HR talent across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Prior to joining ChapmanCG, Katherine started her own executive search business in Beijing, which focused on senior executive roles for leading Chinese companies in the consumer, healthcare and real estate industries. Subsequently, Katherine held positions with Hudson and Charterhouse Partnership, a boutique executive search firm based in Singapore. Katherine has also had extensive industry experience across different sectors with global leaders such as Pepsi, Pfizer, and Lenovo.

Katherine was born in China and was educated in both China and the United States, achieving her Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. She has worked in China, Singapore and the United States, and speaks both Mandarin and English fluently.

Steve Brown is Managing Director with ChapmanCG based between Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. He leads the ChapmanCG team across Southeast Asia and Greater China. Steve has 20+ years’ experience in the search industry, gained in the United Kingdom and the Asia Pacific.

Steve has developed a strong track record of successfully delivering multiple high-profile HR searches across Asia, and across various industry sectors. He is passionate about fostering long-term partnerships with HR influencers and top HR talent regionally and globally.

Tim Spriggs is a Managing Director with ChapmanCG based in the UK. He works with the team to identify high-calibre HR talent across EMEA and internationally.

Tim has worked on behalf of some of the top global multinationals and has a background in global HR search. He works with our teams across Europe, APAC and North America to foster our strong links between our global headquarters and the regions.

Tim spent five years in Singapore where he was instrumental in building the China business and covered international work out of Asia. Prior to ChapmanCG, Tim worked for JD Haspel, a boutique London-based executive search firm, where he specialised in EMEA HR search assignments across multiple sectors including technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services and natural resources.

Before moving into executive search, Tim’s passion for sport led him to his first career in sports marketing and media sponsorship with Octagon. He has a BA (Hons) in American Studies from the University of Nottingham, and a CIM Diploma from the London School of Marketing.

In his spare time, Tim enjoys running and cycling in the Chilterns and is known to have the occasional swim in the Thames near his home in Henley.

Vargin Yeke is a Senior Director with ChapmanCG based in Singapore. He works closely with the global team to identify first class HR talent in Singapore and across the Asia Pacific region, with a particular focus on HR leadership roles in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia across all sectors.

Vargin began his executive search career almost a decade ago in the UK, where he successfully led teams focused on various industries, eventually specialising in Human Resources. Originally from Istanbul, he has previously lived and worked in Turkey, the UK, Thailand and Singapore, where he covered the APAC region.

An international-level water polo player and coach, Vargin has represented his club and country in multiple competitions in Europe for over 10 years. He is now a keen triathlete and a qualified triathlon coach with multiple podium finishes across APAC. Vargin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation & Interpretation from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey.