Society Leadership Movements

Having successfully launched and scaled Society’s Asia Pacific business since 2021, James Lea has relocated back to the UK with Society with Asher Lewis joining as our APAC Managing Consultant.

James Lea’s expanded remit is Head of Hospitality & Leisure and Managing Director of APAC and the Americas, a leadership role where he will drive growth in both the sector practice and two regional businesses that he has launched for Society. His direct portfolio will include hotels, private members clubs, estate management, property development and asset management companies. 

Asher Lewis joins our New Zealand team from the executive search and leadership consultancy, Kerridge and Partners. Prior to that, he worked in research management at the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland. Asher serves as a Board Observer at Whakarongorau Aotearoa, an organisation that provides free Telehealth services to New Zealanders, funded by the government. He will oversee a mixed collection of commercial, education and not-for-profit appointments.

Tanya Stevens, Society’s CEO said: 

“James’ combination of versatility, commerciality and search excellence has seen him build trusted relationships with Society clients while leading our expansion efforts and contributing to our global business strategy that centres people first partnership and a triple bottom line. In this new role he will be both an asset to our global operations while continuing to build a market that he knows well and loves.

In Asher we’ve found a fantastic and ambitious consultant with deep knowledge of the New Zealand market, who is working with our established team on the ground in Asia Pacific to continue to develop our regional footprint. We’re excited to share with you how our portfolio develops under his stewardship.”