Who's Who at IBISWorld

US Executive Team

The Board of Directors

Founder and Chairman - Phil Ruthven Phillip Ruthven is the founder and Non-executive Chairman of IBISWorld, in addition to being one of Australia's best-known social and economic forecasters and public speakers. Phil founded IBIS in 1971 from one of Australia's largest food corporations and his family company and is the sole owner today. Phil's reputation in Australia's Business Community as a strategic thinker is second to none. Requested by many major organizations to be a guest speaker for a variety of events, Phil now travels Australia and the world sharing his insights into business growth potential and future directions. Phil contributes articles to many publications and TV shows in Australia, including the Australian Financial Review, BRW and guest appearances on Four Corners. Phil is a science graduate from the University of NSW. He added to these qualifications with further studies in management and economics at The NSW Institute of Technology and UNE respectively. Phil spent over ten years in the food industry, including executive positions in research, production and marketing, before establishing IBIS. Currently, Phil holds a number of Directorships and Fellowships and other positions in Australia, including:   Chairman, Open Family Australia;   Director, Institute of Applied Economics & Social Research (Melbourne University);   Director, CEDA.   Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors;   Fellow, Australian Marketing Institute.
Non-Executive Director - Dr Roger Sexton Dr Roger Sexton is the founder and Executive Chairman of Beston Pacific Asset Management. Roger is a graduate in economics and commerce with Doctorate and Masters Degrees from North Carolina University in the USA and an Honours Degree (First Class) in Economics from the Flinders University of South Australia. Roger spent ten years in various senior management positions with Commonwealth and State Governments, including as a Director of the Industries Assistance Commission. In 1985, he joined international merchant bank, Morgan Grenfell (now Deutsch Morgan Grenfell) and became an Executive Director on the Board of Morgan Grenfell Australia Limited. In March 1994, he was appointed by the South Australian Government as Chairman of the Asset Management Task Force to manage the Government's privatisation program involving the sale of over $2.0 billion of public sector assets and businesses. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Governors, Flinders University of South Australia and Chairman, Flinders Cancer Centre and Advisory Board Member, Walk for the Cure. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Dr. Sexton has served as the Chief Executive and member of the South Australian Economic Development Board. He is currently the Chairman of the Venture Capital Board in South Australia. He is the founder of the publicly listed entity, Beston Wine Industry Trust. Roger has held positions on the Boards of a number of public and private companies and organisations in Australia and overseas, including as Chairman, Motor Accident Commission, Deputy Chairman, IOOF Holdings Limited, and Deputy Chairman, Korvest Limited.
Non-Executive Director - Geoff Wild Mr Wild is Chairman of WPP Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd and its related entities. He is also Chairman of ComOps Limited and a director of Catuity Inc., the PGA (Professional Golf Association of Australia) and the Arab Bank Australia Limited. He is formerly a director of TAB Limited and the OPSM Group. He was a Vice President and Director of the Sydney Olympic Bid Company Limited and Chairman of the NSW Tourism Commission. He was made a member of the Order of Australia and the Queens Birthday Honours List in 2000.
President - Justin Ruthven Justin has been with IBISWorld for 20 years, holding positions in several aspects of the IBISWorld business from research, sales, client services, marketing and product development. After extensive experience in the Asian region, in 1996 Justin was posted to Jakarta as Managing Director, PT IBIS Dharma Nusa - the first offshore operation for IBISWorld. In 1998 he concluded a license agreement with the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research to establish the second offshore operation. Justin was appointed to IBISWorld’s Board of Directors and was promoted to Managing Director of IBISWorld Australia in 2001 and soon after embarked on an expansion program to the United States where he relocated with his family in 2006. Justin is a graduate in Economics and Marketing, completing a Bachelor of Business degree at Swinburne University of Technology in 1994, majoring in Economics and Computing.