When Andrew Banks co-founded Morgan & Banks in 1985, he wasn’t your typical business leader. He was a self-described misfit, a former actor, university dropout, and velvet painting salesman. But it was precisely this unconventional path that helped shape one of the most influential recruitment businesses in Australia and beyond. 

As Hudson celebrates 40 years, we’re not just looking back at milestones. We’re honouring the mindset that made it all possible. 

Lesson 1: Embrace the unconventional 

Andrew Banks didn’t come from a typical business background. He was an actor, a London University dropout, a restauranteur, and a door-to-door salesman. That mix made him realise something powerful: if his resume didn’t tell the full story of who he was, why should anyone else’s?  

This insight changed everything. Andrew and Geoff Morgan trained recruiters to look beyond qualifications and interview the whole person. It was a more human, more candidate-friendly approach, and it worked. Resumes poured in. Morgan & Banks became the first recruitment company in Australia to hold over 1 million resumes, 8% of the workforce at the time. Employers couldn’t ignore them.  

Takeaway: In recruitment, diverse backgrounds aren’t a liability they’re a superpower. 

Lesson 2: Curiosity is your greatest asset 

Andrew didn’t learn how to interview from a textbook. He learned it by being genuinely curious. “I want to get inside your head,” he said. That curiosity became the foundation for a candidate-first approach that revolutionised recruitment advertising and interviewing. 

Takeaway: Great recruiters don’t just fill roles they uncover possibilities. 

Lesson 3: Build on ethics 

Morgan & Banks introduced a formal code of conduct at a time when recruitment was often transactional. They committed to transparency, integrity, and never reapproaching placed candidates. That ethical stance built trust and loyalty. 

Takeaway: Reputation is earned through consistency, not convenience. 

Lesson 4: Be bold enough to reinvent 

From launching Talent2 to investing in startups on Shark Tank, Andrew never stopped evolving. He saw opportunity in change and wasn’t afraid to pivot, partner, or challenge the status quo. 

Takeaway: The best way to honour your legacy is to keep building on it. 

The story of Hudson from it’s beginning as Morgan & Banks is one of transformation, resilience, and human connection. It’s proof that being a “misfit” can be your greatest strength if you’re willing to learn, lead, and listen. 

Here’s to the next 40 years of bold thinking, ethical leadership, and helping people find their place in the world.