L.E.K. Consulting promotes Philip Wheeler to Partner in Australia

Having served L.E.K. Consulting for five years when he started his career, Phillip Wheeler returned to the consulting firm in 2017 after spending a decade at Rio Tinto and Anglo American. At the mining giant, which last year saw a spike in its profits on the back of higher commodity prices, Wheeler was a member of the core team divesting a downstream aluminium business engaged in engineered aluminium products and composites. He also was responsible for spotting and analysing investment opportunities across the Rio Tinto group. 

At Anglo American, founded in 1917 and one of the globe’s largest mining businesses (responsible for around 40% of the globe’s platinum mining), Wheeler held roles in London (Strategy Manager) and Singapore (Project Manager for Commercial Strategy and later on Sales Manager for the Metallurgical Coal division). In the latter role, he was responsible for a sales book of US$1 billion across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

At L.E.K. Consulting, Wheeler specialises in helping natural resources and industrial companies across Australasia on business issues such as strategy development, operating model transformation, asset portfolio management, organisational design, merger & acquisitions and post-merger integration. Elaborating on his track record on his LinkedIn profile, the newly promoted Partner writes: “I have over 15 years’ experience in consulting and corporate roles across natural resources (mining, upstream oil and gas, agriculture), energy, heavy equipment, waste management, surface transport and infrastructure, and building products and materials.” His project experience spans working for clients across all five continents – North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Wheeler, who holds a Bachelor in Industrial Chemistry from The University of New South Wales (UNSW), one of Australia's leading universities, is among a group of 15 new partners worldwide at L.E.K. Consulting. Other new Partners appointed in Asia are Kaushik Mohan, based in Singapore, and Jitin Sethi, based in Mumbai. Both leaders are a member of the firm’s Education practice.

In Australia, Wheeler becomes L.E.K. Consulting’s twelfth Partner. Other leaders are Simon Barrett (Managing Partner of L.E.K. Consulting Australia), David Ferrarin, Nick Holder, Neale Jones, Monica Ryu, Stephanie Newey, Mark Streeting, George Woods (head of the Sydney office). The firm’s other Melbourne-based Partners are Tim McGrath (head of the Melbourne office), David Ogilvy and Stuart Westmore. 

Founded in 1983 by three former leaders at Bain & Company, L.E.K. currently employs more than 1,400 professionals. The UK-headquartered consultancy last year attracted capital from Lloyds to fund its international expansion plans.