Sue O’Brien is Executive Chair, People Advisory, UK & Vice Chair, Teneo.

With over 30 years’ experience working with boards, Sue advises CEOs on the pressure points of people risk and talent innovation. As a key relationship builder, her network of clients spans the boardrooms of the UK and a global network of candidates and clients. Understanding the complexity and challenge of navigating CEO change is her key skill.

After an early commercial career in retail and the leisure industry, she led a reverse IPO as Chief Executive Officer of a listed search firm which she grew for seven years. Joining Ridgeway in 2015, she led the partner team in both an MBO and its subsequent sale to Teneo in 2020.

Sue is non-executive director of The Pipeline, a founding member of The Women’s Business Council, a member of the Commercial Advisory Board of the Royal Academy of Art, a trustee director of the board of the Ireland Funds for Great Britain and a trustee and Chair of the Nominations Committee for KidsOut children’s charity.

In January 2014, she was awarded an OBE for services to business and charity and for promoting equality in the workplace.