DAVID HODGE CV

David Hodge has more than 30 years business experience in senior executive roles.  In January 2003, after a long career in industry David established his own strategic business advisory company in Melbourne which specialises in strategy, business development, innovation and business purchases and sales.

Financial background

David began his business career in accounting and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London before moving into industry.  After a period as finance executive including as finance director of a medium sized business David moved into general management and, using his strong financial skills took on a number of roles specifically in companies that required an innovative approach to the development of their businesses or resolution of their business issues.

Commercialisation, health industry, research

One of David’s first assignments when he got back to Australia in 1986 was as a management consultant to Monash University where his brief was to assess, report and recommend a commercial structure to maximize the revenue for, and minimize the potential risks to the University from the specialist medical unit comprised of world-famous IVF doctors, researchers and their support staff who were ‘scattered’ throughout Monash University carrying out clinical and research activities.

After completing this task David spent six years as inaugural GM / CEO of Monash IVF, the group of companies that he established on behalf of Monash University, Professor Carl Wood and Professor Alan Trounson as the commercial structure.  David provided the initial structure and impetus for the commercialisation of the (then) controversial IVF techniques and technology and brought the business to early profitability.

During his tenure as CEO Monash IVF established itself as the principal IVF clinic in Australia and David took the company through a period of major expansion including managing the design, development and fit-out of a purpose-built, state-of-the-art clinical and research facility where the research was facilitated by the commercial operations.
At the time of leaving Monash IVF in 1993 the Monash IVF group had a turnover of $6m and 70 staff.  The company subsequently expanded both domestically and internationally and was ultimately sold to a private equity group for more than $200m in 2008.

Health industry

Following on from Monash IVF David spent six years at a listed private hospital group culminating in the Director, Business Development role that included improving the profitability of existing hospitals, buying and building new hospitals and working with financiers on Public Private Partnership (PPP) hospital tenders across Australia.
This role gave David exposure to a wide range of hospital facilities and the variety of businesses within the hospitals and the operational issues that need to be resolved to grow the profitability of these businesses. It also gave David significant exposure to building and construction particularly in the design and construction of health facilities from the ‘buyers’ perspective.

Project Management / Construction

David subsequently spent five years at Bovis Lend Lease, the construction arm of the Lend Lease group.  His role there was General Manager, Health & Aged Care where he led a small specialist consulting and construction sales unit that worked closely with market-leading clients to establish strategic alliances and obtain negotiated rather than competitively tendered construction work.  His key role was origination of consulting work that was likely to position the company for construction projects.

This role built on David’s previous consulting and operational experience and provided David with exposure to the ‘sales’ side of the building industry, project management and property development.

Axtrim Group

David started Axtrim Group in 2004 and has focussed on providing strategic business and business development advice across a range of industries.  Business development has included business turnaround projects, growing businesses, buying or starting up new businesses as well as buying complementary businesses for existing clients.  

Business development has also involved property development whether as stand alone projects or extensions / changing design and use to optimise yields from existing buildings.