The former global chief executive officer of Herbert Smith Freehills, Mark Rigotti, is leaving the firm after 26 years to lead an Australian business group.
Rigotti, who most recently was senior adviser to the firm, will join the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) as chief executive designate at the end of July before taking over as CEO in September.
“I will be leaving Herbert Smith Freehills after many happy and fulfilling years. I am very grateful for all that HSF has provided to me. I have benefited from many opportunities, friendships and professional relationships—from which I have learned and developed a lot,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post.
“HSF will continue to flourish and thrive.”
Sydney-based Rigotti was global chief executive officer, based in London, for six years until April 2020, when he was succeeded by Justin D’Agostino after standing down. He started at Australia’s legacy firm Freehills in 1996 as a Sydney-based partner in the banking and finance group before the firm merged with Herbert Smith.
“Mark has made a huge contribution to the firm over his time with us. He leaves with our gratitude and we wish him all the best as he takes on this exciting role,” and HSF spokesperson said.
The chair of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, John Atkin, said in a statement that the organization welcomes Rigotti.
“Mark has a demonstrated capacity to lead major organizations through transformational change,” Atkin said, adding that his previous involvement with some of the group’s key stakeholders will prove invaluable. “Mark is the right person to be leading the AICD in the next stage of its development and growth.”
