Coaching Bio for Andy Sheats

Executive Coach to CIOs and CTOs

I coach and mentor CTOs, CIOs, and technology leaders to unlock their full potential and achieve extraordinary outcomes — grounded in 30 years of leading digital businesses as CEO, CTO, founder, investor, and board director.

Background and Experience

REA Group — Group GM of Development & Strategy I developed and executed REA's global growth strategy — 13 acquisitions across 7 countries. We achieved a 10x increase in value, building the platform that returned a further 10x. realestate.com.au is now worth $30B. I also served as a Director of REA Group China.

health.com.au — CEO and Co-Founder I co-founded Australia's first new health insurer since 1977. Raised $85m, grew to over $120m in revenue. Customers voted us the "most loved" insurance brand in Australia. Telstra named us Best Start-up in Australia. AVCAL named me Growth CEO of the Year. BRW listed us as both a Fast Starter and Most Innovative Company. Exited via trade sale.

Open Universities Australia — CTO & Chief Growth Officer As CTO, I doubled engineering throughput and modernised culture and architecture. As Chief Growth Officer, I had full executive responsibility for 120 staff and $130m revenue — and returned the business to growth after 23 consecutive quarters of decline.

Amy Gillett Foundation — Chair I chaired the Amy Gillett Foundation for six years. During that time we renewed the board and executive team, achieved the Foundation's decade-long goal of consistent nationwide road safety legislation, and secured a $6m grant that put the organisation on solid financial footing.

Earlier: Booz Allen Hamilton · Sybase (Silicon Valley) Management consulting across major Australian corporates. Seven years at Sybase in San Francisco — Corporate Strategy Director leading 10 acquisitions; Operations Director across a $1B, 4,000-person global organisation.

Coaching and Mentoring

My coaching starts with a Leadership MRI — based on the Leadership Circle Profile — gathering detailed feedback from 18–20 stakeholders including the board, CEO, peers, direct reports, and wider stakeholders. Results are benchmarked against a global database of over 500,000 leaders. Clients describe it as a game-changer.

Over 6–12 months, we build the specific capabilities needed to close the gaps that matter most. Recent examples:

• Coached a first-time CIO to transition from functional IT manager to enterprise leader
• Helped an introverted CIO launch and lead a significant digital transformation
• Prepared an emerging leader for promotion to C-level through targeted LCP work

I limit my practice to six clients at a time, focusing on each one's unique goals.

Qualifications

MBA, Melbourne Business School · BS Industrial Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona · Disruptive Strategy, Harvard Business School Executive Education (Clayton Christensen) · Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors · Certified Coach · Accredited Leadership Circle Profile Practitioner

Awards & Recognition

• AVCAL Australian Growth CEO of the Year (2014)
• Telstra Business Award — National Winner, Best Start-up (2013)
• EY Entrepreneur of the Year — Victorian State Finalist (2014)
• BRW Fast Starters & Most Innovative Companies

Personal

I grew up in Hawaii and California and started my career in Silicon Valley. My Australian wife and I met while working in a Swiss ski village — which tells you something about both of us. We moved to her hometown of Melbourne, where our two kids grew up and both became software engineers. When I'm not coaching, I'm outdoors — mountain biking in summer, backcountry skiing in winter.