Nigel Dews

|   BEc (Hons), MBA   |   Location: Sydney, AU

Nigel Dews is an Operating Partner at OneVentures and leads the Technology team within the firm. Nigel is a digital revolutionary, having been an Executive Leader in the digital media, technology and telecommunications industries for 20+ years.

Nigel is renowned for his experience as both a strategic consultant and a proven entrepreneur. He has experience as a start-up CEO as well as a strong history within large multinationals: providing critical leadership to pivot into the digital landscape.

Nigel was born in NZ, grew up in Australia and has also lived across both the US and Europe. Wherever he is in the world though, he loves the outdoors – with a bias towards Central Otago. Whether he’s hiking, running or catching a wave with his family, Nigel rarely stops moving when he’s out of the office.

Nigel joined OneVentures to predominantly to work with our digital and technology-based portfolio businesses. He currently serves on the Investment Committee of the OneVentures Growth Fund V, advises the Fund IV team and works extensively with our portfolio companies.

Nigel is a highly experienced executive, consultant and has board responsibilities as a Director with OneVentures portfolio companies Lumary, Kepler Analytics, Flippa and SourseAI.

Nigel has been a leader in the digital media, technology and telecommunications industries as CEO of Vodafone Hutchison Australia, 3 Mobile, and the first Chief Executive of the Fairfax Media digital business. More recently, Nigel was CEO of Melbourne-based technology scale-up, Message Media, leading the strategy development and execution to rapidly grow via organic sales acceleration, acquisitions, new products and geographic expansion, attracting private equity and leading to an eventual trade sale.

Nigel initially worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia, spent five years in strategy consulting with McKinsey & Company before moving into leadership positions in the emerging category of digital media.

He built and led the start-up of Fairfax Digital for its first seven years, taking it through to break-even. He led the building of a diverse portfolio of organically grown, joint ventured and acquired digital businesses.

Nigel has held notable leadership roles including CEO of Hutchison Telecoms Australia (HTA) and 3 Mobile, leading the merger and integration of 3 with Vodafone, remaining as CEO of the merged entity for its first 3 years.

After starting-up European border mobile network enabler Hue in the UK, Nigel returned to Sydney and joined strategy consultants Port Jackson Partners as a Director and shareholder leading strategy projects across a range of industries in Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. This included work with CEOs of fast growing digital businesses, digital and technology strategies, media, infrastructure, agriculture and international growth initiatives.

Nigel joined Message Media in 2017 to scale-up and transform the business from a single region, single product, single shareholder business via a substantial investment in technology, people, new processes and platforms, and acquisitions, culminating in a significant private equity investment and founder exit. He is also a founding partner of GNG Partners, a boutique growth strategy consulting firm.