Brent Needham | Managing Director

Brent Needham Brent is the founder and Managing Director of Kennedy Needham. He has over thirty years experience in corporate advisory, merchant banking, international management consulting and corporate doctor fields.

Brent has completed numerous transactions globally including acquisitions, divestments, MBOs and corporate consolidation work for organisations such as Telstra, Commonwealth/Colonial Bank, Myer, Envirozel, Mattel, IOOF, Blentech and NH Architecture.

His career has included managing major national and international assignments for Andersen Consulting and the Elders Finance Group. Brent was an advisor to a major Federal Royal Commission and was CEO of State Trustees and the St Kilda Football Club.

Rod Coleman | Director

Rod Coleman Rod is Director of Kennedy Needham and has 13 years of experience commercialising technology and undertaking transactions globally.

Before joining Kennedy Needham, Rod worked with Syngenta AG, the world’s largest agribusiness, in Basel Switzerland. In this role he undertook transactions in the biofuels industry and led the start-up of new businesses globally. Prior to Syngenta, Rod headed marketing and product management for a Swiss-based firm which developed investment management software, and was involved in its successful sale to Bloomberg Inc. Before moving to Europe, Rod worked with a consulting firm in Sydney and NAB in Melbourne.

Rod holds a Bachelor of Commerce, the Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment (FINSIA), and earned an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Paul Hill | Director

Paul Hill Paul is a Director of Kennedy Needham and has 20 plus years experience managing large consumer goods companies at the CEO level in Australia and Asia.

He has worked for Black and Decker, GE Thomson, Mattel and HWI (Breville/Kambrook). During his time at HWI Paul undertook capital raising, divestment and acquisition transactions. Paul has most recently worked in China for five years setting up joint ventures and running large manufacturing operations for brands such as Colgate, Bissell, Westinghouse and DE-Walt.

At Kennedy Needham Paul is leading divestment and capital raising mandates throughout Australia on behalf of firms in the facilities management, engineering services, chemical, forestry, and infrastructure industries.

Paul has an honours degree in Economics from the Australian National University.

Mark Vanthoff | Senior Associate

Mark Vanthoff Mark is a Senior Associate of Kennedy Needham.

Mark has worked for Coles Ltd, David Jones Ltd, and Betta Stores Ltd, and brings a wealth of commercial and corporate finance experience to the Kennedy Needham team. He has undertaken a range of transactions in the retail sector including acquisitions, divestments, a demutualisation, and a public listing, for Sleepy’s Bedding, Betta Stores Ltd, Buy Rite Electrix and Truscotts Appliances. Since joining Kennedy Needham, Mark has completed divestments for a Victoria based chemical and maintenance services firm, a financial planning firm, and a mortgage fund.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Business, with a major in accounting and is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from Kaplan (formerly Financial Services Institute of Australasia).

Robert Hamilton | Senior Associate

Robert Hamilton Rob Hamilton is a senior associate of Kennedy Needham.

Prior to joining Kennedy Needham Rob worked for Ernst & Young and Hume Lawyers (now Aitken Partners), during which time he was admitted to practice as a lawyer. Since joining Kennedy Needham, Rob has led a number of divestment mandates in the agricultural services, maintenance services, and financial services sectors. Rob has also worked on four acquisitions for the ASX-listed engineering services company, Envirozel Limited.

Rob is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from Kaplan (formerly FINSIA) after having completed his undergraduate degrees in Law and Commerce at the University of Melbourne.

Tom Butler | Associate Consultant

Tom Butler Tom is an Associate Consultant at Kennedy Needham.

Prior to joining Kennedy Needham Tom worked at a highly regarded Melbourne Accounting firm where he gained experience in tax and audit. Since joining Kennedy Needham, Tom has been involved in a range of divestments and capital raisings for clients in the facilities management, engineering services, construction, and IT services sectors in Australia and off shore.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is currently undertaking the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia program.

Lachlan Hogg | Vacation Placement

Lachlan is undertaking summer vacation placement. He will be working with Directors and Associates to assist them in executing active projects.

Lachlan is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Engineering at Deakin University, majoring in Accounting and Mechanical Engineering.