Our Leadership

Gabe Shawn Varges

Chairman GECN Group and Senior Partner of HCM
HCM International, Continental Europe and Gulf Countries

Gabe Shawn Varges has extensive international advisory and executive experience in governance, compensation, regulation, and compliance, both in the private and public sectors. He specializes on the strategic and more difficult challenges in these areas, including in terms of aligning incentives. He advises boards, CEOs, and the heads of key functions in developed and emerging markets, including in the European Union and Gulf countries. Prior to HCM, he was Head of Governance (including remuneration) of Switzerland’s combined banking, insurance and securities regulator, in which capacity he dealt with regulators and government authorities from around the world. Gabe Shawn Varges has served on several professional boards and teaches governance and related subjects at the University of St. Gallen Executive School. His publications include, among others, “Governing Remuneration”, “Internal Governance”, and “Incentives to the Promote and Protect the Compliance Program”. Gabe Shawn Varges is a graduate of Harvard University.

Michael Robinson

Co-founder and Executive Director, Vice-Chair GECN Group
Guerdon Associates, Australia and Asia

Michael Robinson has consulted to several of the world’s largest companies on board effectiveness, human capital, and executive remuneration matters in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific over a period of 30 years. He is a co-founder and executive director of Guerdon Associates.

Prior to this, Michael was co-founder of a US based technology company, US regional practice leader and a worldwide partner of Mercer Consulting Group and founder and leader of regional human capital and reward practices in Australia for major global consulting firms, including Mercer and Hewitt.

Michael Robinson has graduate and post graduate qualifications in psychology and a MBA from the University of Melbourne.

Robin Ferracone

Founding Partner, CEO
Farient Advisors LLC, USA

Robin Ferracone has over 30 years of consulting experience advising clients in the areas of business and talent strategies, executive compensation, organization, value management and performance measurement. Prior to founding Farient in 2007, Robin Ferracone was president of the global Human Capital business of Mercer, a business which included talent and compensation consulting, software, and data services globally. She is the author of numerous articles on compensation and performance, is a frequent presenter for prominent organizations and is quoted regularly in national publications. Robin Ferracone received an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar and a B.A. summa cum laude in Management Science and Economics from Duke University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Randi Caplan

Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Chief Marketing Officer
Farient Advisors LLC, USA

Randi Caplan is vice president of marketing and business development at Farient, and works closely with various stakeholders, investors, and alliance partners to build visibility through integrated marketing programs. With more than 25 years of experience in professional services marketing and business development, Randi Caplan is known for extensive visibility, lead generation and global research programs. Prior to joining Farient, Randi Caplan held marketing and business development roles at EY, Capgemini and Deloitte Consulting where she was the technology marketing leader. Most recently she was on the advisory board for the National Association of Corporate Directors’ Southern California Chapter.

Amanda Voegeli

President and Managing Partner
Southlea Group, Canada

Amanda has over 20 years experience in the compensation and rewards advisory area. Prior to founding Southlea, she had a leadership role at Towers Watson, helping grow their North American business. She is a well-known and trusted advisor to boards and management of many of Canada’s largest and mid-sized publicly-traded and private companies. Her work includes all matters related to pay levels, design and governance. She works across industries with special expertise in the asset management, financial services, insurance, and IT sectors. She is member of the of the Canadian advisory Committee of the Global Equity Organization (GEO), member of Women Get On Board, and a Board member for the North American AT Children’s Project. She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia in Canada and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Dr Mark Bussin

Chairman
21^st Century, Africa

Dr Mark Bussin co-founded 21st Century in 1996 and has consulted widely across Africa in the area of Remuneration, Governance and HR. Prior to 21st Century Mark worked in the C-suite of 4 Multinational companies – professional services, mining, FMCG and a financial institution. Mark is a Professor at several universities and supervises MBA and PhD students doing their dissertations and thesis. He has published 15 text books and has published over 70 peer reviewed journal articles. Mark sits on and serves several Boards, Audit and Risk Committees and HR/Remuneration Committees. Mark has degrees in HR, Management and Commerce culminating in a Doctor of Commerce.