Deep Zimmermann is a Partner at Omera Partners specialising in Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership executive search across manufacturing, building materials, chemicals, plastics and packaging, automation, advanced manufacturing, and industrial services. A former corporate M&A lawyer with a law degree from Oxford University, Deep brings 18 years of executive search experience and a genuinely global perspective, having lived and worked in Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Singapore, and Sydney. She conducts search assignments across Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
What are the biggest challenges your clients face in finding senior talent?
“Clients come to me when a Chief Executive, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, or senior leader has left or is not working out. My approach is to step back, understand the organisation, the leadership team, the succession planning, and where the gaps really are. Often the role evolves. What starts as a replacement ends up being a transformational hire.”
Which industries or functions do you specialise in?
“I specialise in Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Executive General Manager, and Vice President-level search assignments across cement, steel, building materials, chemicals, packaging, plastics,automation, advanced manufacturing, defence, security, machinery, and industrial services. My clients span multinationals, ASX-listed companies, private equity-backed businesses, family-owned enterprises, and industry associations across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.”
What types of appointments are you most proud of?
“The Chemistry Australia Chief Executive search stands out. Four weeks to complete what normally takes several months, with a multi-member board selection committee and no room for misalignment. We delivered a result that exceeded expectations.”
Chemistry Australia is the peak body representing the country’s chemistry industry, and the Chief Executive appointment carried significant weight across a complex, multi-stakeholder board. The brief was compressed into four weeks without compromising the depth of assessment or the quality of the process. Deep managed the board selection committee throughout, aligning diverse perspectives under significant time pressure and delivering an appointment that the board has since described as exceeding their expectations.
As Deep reflects: “Every search has its complexity. That one tested every part of the process simultaneously and reminded me why rigour under pressure is a non-negotiable.”
How do you build trust with both clients and candidates?
“I am a leadership adviser, not just a search provider. Why someone succeeds in one organisation and struggles in another is rarely about capability alone. Resilience and humility matter as much, and understanding that is central to how I work. I am fully Hogan-certified and integrate psychometric assessment into every assignment. Clients re-engage me when they move organisations because I find someone who lifts their organisation, not just fills a seat. More than a few unsuccessful candidates have since become clients.”
“If you want to find greatness, good is never good enough. Being the best is about constant evolution and a journey of constant improvement rather than an end result.”
What keeps you energised outside of work?
“I love scuba diving, mountain hiking, jogging, and eating street food wherever I travel. Outside of work, my focus is being a role model for my two daughters.”
