PERTH, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Heidrick & Struggles  (NASDAQ: HSII), the premier provider of executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping worldwide, today announced the opening of an office in Perth. The new office will cover Australia's industrial sector, with a special focus on energy, natural resources, mining and infrastructure.

"With the addition of the Perth team, we are beginning a new chapter in our firm's global growth story," said Krishnan Rajagopalan, Executive Vice President, Global Markets. "We plan to continue to bring talented consultants into our firm around the world, adding to our capabilities where we see opportunity."

Heidrick & Struggles established operations in Australia in 1989. The Perth office becomes the firm's third office in Australia and its 14th office in Asia Pacific. The firm has more than 300 employees across Asia Pacific. 

"Building on our expertise in Sydney and Melbourne, the consultants in Perth will help drive the success and growth of industrial clients in Australia and throughout the region," said Steve Mullinjer, Regional Leader of Heidrick & Struggles, Asia Pacific.

"The mining and oil-and-gas sectors are major contributors to the Australian economy," Mullinjer said. The mining sector currently comprises about 7% of Australia's total GDP. Industry reports forecast strong growth in coming years in the oil-and-gas industry's contribution to the country's overall economic output.

Debbie Cozart will lead the Perth office. Colin Simpson and Beau Yorke also join Heidrick & Struggles in Perth.

• Debbie Cozart, Partner-in-Charge:  A former Heidrick & Struggles consultant, Cozart has a strong global network and extensive international experience in the upstream and downstream oil-and-gas sectors, including more than 16 years in global roles with ExxonMobil.
• Colin Simpson, Partner:  A lawyer by training, Simpson specializes in C-Suite and functional leadership searches across a wide variety of industry sectors including natural resources, infrastructure, automotive distribution and logistics, telecommunications, financial services and education.
• Beau Yorke, Principal:  Yorke has a decade of executive search experience in the oil-and-gas, and mining-and-resources sectors. Having lived and worked on three continents, he has completed numerous C-level assignments in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

About Heidrick & Struggles:
Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) serves the executive talent and leadership needs of the world's top organizations as the premier provider of leadership consulting, culture shaping and senior-level executive search services. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 60 years ago. Today, the firm serves as a trusted advisor, providing integrated leadership solutions and helping its clients change the world, one leadership team at a time. www.heidrick.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140822/139029

SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles