What we do

Who we are

Our team

Christine O’Donnell​

Senior Partner

Christine is passionate about people and businesses. Her career has been the culmination of these two passions, which has helped countless clients and organisations achieve their goals both in New Zealand and in Australia. Christine’s innate agility and energy has enabled her to successfully recruit for a wide range of influential and high-ranking executive titles both in the public and private sector. She currently utilises her outstanding relationship management skills and more than 20 years’ experience in national and international executive search firms to unleash the potential that exists within us all at Meritos.

Christine values diversity and inclusion and believes every role is important; from the most junior to the most senior. She is renowned for always following up and staying connected to many candidates who in turn become clients. Christine is really proud of her candidates’ successes and believes authenticity, honesty and integrity are key to an exceptional candidate experience. Her tenacity to always go above and beyond and passion for developing deep and long-lasting relationships with her candidates and clients has resulted in an extensive and valuable network of skilled, well-credentialed and diverse professionals.

Prior to her search career, Christine held senior and management positions so she has a strong insight into the complexities of organisations, as well as a comprehensive understanding of client strategy and delivery across government, business and not-for-profit organisations.

Christine holds a Master of Arts with Honours in Social Science from Massey University, Palmerston North. She is a self-confessed news addict and in another life her passion for fashion may have led to a career in fashion design. Christine also loves running, is an absolute sports fanatic and really enjoys watching people achieve success at the highest level.

Areas of specialty:

  • Human Services
  • Disability
  • Health
  • Aged Care
  • Environment

Insights by Christine

Professional networking tips for job seekers: making connections that matter

Professional networking is a vital component of career development, acting as a catalyst for new opportunities, learning, and growth. By forging connections with individuals across various industries, job seekers gain access to knowledge, mentorship, and career opportunities that may otherwise remain out of reach…

Is your onboarding setting new hires up for success?

When new employees join your team, their experience during the onboarding process can significantly impact their long-term success. A well-structured onboarding process not only helps new hires settle into their roles more quickly but also fosters engagement and productivity from the start. In this blog, we’ll explore the key steps involved in creating an effective onboarding process.

Board Service

Making a difference: your guide to joining an NFP board

The calibre of your leadership team can make or break your organisation’s trajectory, underscoring the importance of making well-informed decisions when it comes to filling crucial leadership roles. In this blog, we’ll delve into these advantages in greater detail and discover how partnering with recruitment experts can propel your organisation towards even greater impact and success.

Transforming leadership search: the power of recruitment partnerships

The calibre of your leadership team can make or break your organisation’s trajectory, underscoring the importance of making well-informed decisions when it comes to filling crucial leadership roles. In this blog, we’ll delve into these advantages in greater detail and discover how partnering with recruitment experts can propel your organisation towards even greater impact and success.

A woman's hand holding a smartphone displaying social media statistics

Transforming talent discovery: leveraging digital marketing for executive search

The role of digital marketing in talent discovery has become increasingly critical. As organisations look to fill executive positions, they need innovative strategies to identify and attract the most qualified candidates. In this blog, we will explore the role of digital marketing in talent discovery and the advantages it provides in executive search.