The CEO Magazine’s 2020 Executive of the Year Awards is kicking off this November. Presented in a virtual format for the first time ever, this celebratory event will shine the spotlight on Australia’s most notable business leaders. Even more, the event features an esteemed judging panel full of business greats like the Director of Strategy and Operations at Google Australia and New Zealand, Jeremy Kodomichalos.
Integrous, determined and passionate, Jeremy is a values-based leader who loves solving problems. And he always thinks before he leaps.
“My approach to all business opportunities is to first understand, then clearly define the problem you are trying to solve,” he says. “Do this, and everything else will follow.”
This business tenet has gotten him far in life, starting early on. When Jeremy was fresh out of university and working at Procter & Gamble, he had a meeting that, little did he know then, would change his life forever.
“I still remember it vividly to this day,” Jeremy shares. “Soon after joining Procter & Gamble Australia, the company went through a major global restructure. Unsure of how to navigate it, I met with the managing director at the time, and she asked me to map out what I wanted to achieve in the next 5–10 years.”
“I came back with a plan on an A3 piece of paper, and she said, ‘What if I could help you achieve your vision tomorrow?’” he says. “Three months later, I was on a plane to the APAC headquarters in Singapore where I spent the next five years leading regional product design and business development.”
“Our business leaders around Australia put their hearts and souls into helping build products and services that delight and help Australian customers. The Executive of the Year Awards is a wonderful opportunity to step back, reflect and recognise these achievements and contributions.”
Currently a member of the Executive Leadership team, Jeremy is responsible for Google’s business strategy and commercial capabilities. He’s also a member of the APAC Strategy Leadership Team and one of Google’s leading global executive career coaches.
“When I think about our work at Google, it’s driven by a desire to be helpful in the moments that matter for our users, customers and the community – whether it’s helping someone find the information they need through Search or get from A to B with Maps, or the work we do with our partners to develop digital skills and help businesses evolve and grow,” he says.
Jeremy’s astute leadership mirrors Google’s helpful nature. His peers and staff describe him as approachable, thoughtful and strategic. And he takes great pride in seeing people grow and succeed.
“My philosophy has always been to surround myself with great people and allow them to have autonomy, while providing the right resources to help them achieve,” he says.
As Jeremy takes a seat at the judging table this year, he’ll be surrounded by some of Australia’s highest achievers in business. For him, it’s an honour to give them the recognition they deserve.
“Our business leaders around Australia put their heart and soul into helping build products and services that delight and help Australian customers,” he says. “They do it by leading their team and organisation to help them achieve great outcomes. The Executive of the Year Awards is a wonderful opportunity to step back, reflect and recognise these achievements and contributions.”
