New appointments to Board and Executive Positions at The Bridge International
- TheBridgeInternational
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Bucking the downward trend, The Bridge International continues to build trust and grow, looking to the future, and announcing new board and executive team appointments
SYDNEY, 17 March 2026.
The Bridge International looks to the future, building on a its reputation and impressive growth as an independent, trusted advisor, bucking the trend in a consultancy sector that has had reputational challenges. The Bridge and CXO2 have partnered with 60 brands across Australia and New Zealand over the last five years. Over this period revenue has grown by more than 50 percent year on year.
The Bridge International was founded by Stuart Blake and David McDonald in 2018. Since inception, the business has challenged the management consulting industry, with a clear vision to become the most trusted professional services consultancy in their chosen markets.
In 2022, with the backdrop of Covid and brands struggling to deliver consistently good customer service, The Bridge launched a dedicated customer experience business, CXO2, led by Chief Executive Officer Sara Elmstrom. Prior to The Bridge Stuart, David and Sara had successful careers leading innovation and transformation for startups and leading brands, locally and internationally. Stuart held Chief Executive roles at Wesfarmers and IAG with over 30 years in financial services, David was a leading Chief Operating Officer across numerous sectors, while Sara Elmstrom held executive roles leading customer, operations and business performance functions through an international, cross‑industry career.
The Bridge is entering a new phase of growth, building on strong momentum, and is pleased to announce new board and executive roles and appointments.
Stuart Blake will transition from Co-Managing Director to Executive Chairman.
This natural transition will enable Stuart to devote more time working with the Board and the executive team on the organisation’s strategy and growth aspirations.
As Executive Chairman, Stuart will focus on setting strategic direction, leading the Strategy and Corporate Development Practice, and continuing to develop market‑leading services for clients of The Bridge and CXO2. He will remain closely involved in senior client relationships, industry engagement, and the important work delivered through the group’s charity foundation, Bridge to Good, ensuring continued impact for clients and the community.
David McDonald, will also transition from Co-Managing Director to Executive Director.
David will continue to lead the Customer and Operations Practice, working with clients to deliver sustainable, transformational change. This has been a successful core service from The Bridge, with the exceptional customer, culture and commercial outcomes for clients establishing long-term trusted relationships and advocacy.
Stuart Brown, has been appointed to the new role of Chief Executive Officer of The Bridge International.
Stuart has operated at board and C-suite level for many years, partnering with Chairs, CEOs, and executive teams to shape strategy, lead transformation, and deliver enterprise outcomes across complex organisations. A founding Partner and long-standing leader of the business, Stuart has been central to building The Bridge into a trusted, independent advisor across financial services, retail, mutuals, cooperatives, government, and not-for-profits. His experience spans strategy, corporate development, M&A, and large-scale transformation.
Sara Elmstrom will continue as Chief Executive Officer for CXO2 and Chair of Bridge to Good.
Sara is an experienced, international executive who helps organisations improve customer and commercial outcomes by taking an enterprise view of customer experience.
She works with boards and executive teams to set direction and translate strategy into practical decisions across service design, operating model, capability, and the smart use of AI and digital, so experience holds up in the real world.
Sara also chairs the group’s charitable foundation, Bridge to Good, helping use the business for good and giving back.
Stuart Blake said,
“I am delighted to take on the role of Executive Chairman, working along-side our board. David Russell will move into a deputy chairman role. His support, leadership experience and ongoing council has been, and continues to be invaluable. I am looking forward to spending more time with David and our outstanding external board members, Karyn Baylis AM, John Simpson and Helen Whitehead. I’d also like to congratulate Stuart Brown on becoming CEO of The Bridge. I have worked alongside Stuart for over ten years, and he is passionate about our clients and an outstanding purpose-driven and values-based leader. Both The Bridge International and CXO2, under Stuart and Sara, are in great hands with their passion for our business, practices, team members and clients”
David McDonald said,
“We advise many of our clients on business transformation, succession planning and talent retention, so it is gratifying for us to make this happen in our own business. Sara and Stuart have been critical in our success and continue to bring a refreshing, contemporary approach to everything we do. As with Stuart, their appointments will give me more time in my Executive Director role and focus on my own passion - ensuring our consulting team continue to deliver fairer value and exceptional sustained outcomes for our growing number of clients."
Stuart Brown said,
“I am delighted to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer at The Bridge. Over the last eight years, we have built a strong business foundation, working with more than 60 of the most recognised brands to lead transformations and deliver meaningful impact. We have an exciting future ahead as we build on that foundation through The Bridge and CXO2, strengthening our role as trusted advisors who help organisations navigate change and deliver outcomes that matter.”
The Bridge International has clear aspirations to build on its strong foundations and past success into the future.
Stuart Brown said:
“As our clients and organisations face an increasing pace of change and disruption, demand is growing for specialists and independent advisors who can bridge strategy and execution and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a real impact. The Bridge is well positioned to play that role and to build deep trust with clients as they deliver meaningful change. I am excited about what lies ahead. I believe strongly in our people, our capability, and our role in the market, and in the opportunity to shape the future of The Bridge while making a genuine difference for our clients.”
Sara Elmstrom said:
“This leadership transition marks an exciting next phase for CXO2 and The Bridge. The appointments are a natural evolution and well-deserved recognition of the contributions of Stuart, David and Stuart. I look forward to continuing to build the businesses with them, our fantastic people and brilliant board and delivering great results for our clients. In the current market conditions where margin pressure and customer affordability are reshaping how organisations compete, growth is harder to find and customers have less patience for friction. That is where we focus, helping leaders take an enterprise view and translate strategy into practical change that delivers real impact.”
About The Bridge International
The Bridge International is a trusted, alternative, innovative and purpose driven management consultancy operating in Australia, New Zealand and internationally. It is a values and purpose-driven organisation headquartered in Sydney, with teams in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Their vision is clear - to become the most trusted professional services consultancy in our chosen markets.
The Bridge International’s leadership team brings deep C-suite experience, having walked in the shoes of their clients. This practitioner-first approach, combined with strong consulting capability, enables them to quickly define the problem and design pragmatic, fit-for-purpose solutions that are actionable and effective - not theoretical.
Clients trust The Bridge International to provide honest advice and work as an extension of their team, delivering measurable results and strong returns on investment. The company’s fair-value model reflects its fast-track approach, lower overheads, and commitment to having senior experts on every assignment.
The Bridge International’s practices span: Strategy & Corporate Development, Customer & Operations, Leadership, Culture & Capability, Insurance, Program Delivery & Embedment. The range of services offered enables the company to support a wide range of client needs, providing a bridge between strategy and execution, embedding sustainable solutions and transferring knowledge so that clients succeed over the long term.
About CXO2
CXO2 is The Bridge International group’s specialist customer experience and service transformation business. CXO2 works with boards and executive teams to improve enterprise performance by strengthening service and operational foundations, then translating strategy into execution that works.
CXO2’s approach is pragmatic and commercial. We help organisations reduce avoidable contact, improve cost to serve, protect trust and lift productivity, while embedding change so outcomes stick. CXO2 works across industries as practitioners who have led and delivered in complex environments, partnering closely with teams to simplify complexity and turn customer intent into clarity and measurable impact.
About Bridge to Good
Bridge to Good is how The Bridge International turns business into good. Through its foundation, the company supports Lifeline, Cancer Council NSW, and Dementia Australia, helping create impact where it matters most.
