Twenty representatives selected to join AESC's regional councils. Plus, new officers announced.
NEW YORK, April 4, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), representing the top executive search and leadership consulting firms worldwide, today announces 2024 officers and representatives appointed to AESC's Americas Council, EMEA Council and APAC Council. Each Council consists of elected officers and representatives from AESC Member executive search and leadership advisory firms from across their respective region.
Karen Greenbaum, AESC President and CEO, commented: "In addition to the AESC Council's governance role, members contribute insights that shape AESC and guide our standards and best practices. Their leadership is invaluable."
EIGHT NEW AESC COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS SELECTED
Lynne Murphy-Rivera, Managing Director, Americas, commented, "It's always exciting to welcome new officers and council members to the AESC Americas Council as it brings opportunities for new connections. Each Council member brings diverse experience and a passion for our profession. I am looking forward to what we'll achieve together in 2024."
New Council Members for 2024
- Sandra Olive Bäcker, Managing Partner, Bäcker & Partners / AltoPartners based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has more than 20 years of experience in executive search. She currently specializes in executive search and leadership consulting for senior management in the local and Latin American markets. Sandra is also a Columnist in renowned newspapers and magazines.
- Sherrie Barch, CEO and Co-Founder of Furst Group & NuBrick Partners / IIC Partners based in Chicago, IL, has more than 35 years of experience helping her clients and colleagues recruit, develop and retain leadership teams. Her expertise in executive search, assessments, and leadership consulting enables her to provide sound counsel as she helps clients align their executive teams with their success strategies. Sherrie is a seasoned speaker and writer on leadership, communication, diversity, and career management.
- Pilar Brogeras, Managing Director, Global Leader Startups and Scale-ups for Stanton Chase based in Mexico City, MX, is a 2017 recipient of AESC's Future of the Profession Award. Throughout her career as a consultant, she has collaborated directly in different sectors, ranging from industrial to financial services.
- Michael S. Castleman, Chief Business Officer and Executive Partner of Emerging Markets and Interim Leadership, WittKieffer, based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, manages the Global Life Sciences, Investor-Backed Healthcare and Interim Leadership practices, as well as the firm's finance, technology, marketing, and commercial strategy and insights functions.
- Ryan Grant, President and Founder, The Grant Partners, based in Atlanta, GA, has more than 15 years of executive search experience. During this time, he has completed more than 500 senior-level searches while working for Fortune 100 companies, private equity-owned organizations and professional sports franchises.
- Jonas Hedin, Managing Partner, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen /Penrhyn International, based in Charlotte, NC, manages the team of search consultants and associates within the firm in addition to leading and executing searches across a wide array of industries and functional areas.
- Bridget Papanicholas, CEO and Managing Director, TRANSEARCH, based in Chicago, IL, has harnessed her leadership and strategic thinking to propel TRANSEARCH Chicago to new heights, establishing it as a prominent player in the executive search industry. Bridget also designs and delivers customized culture and leadership programs for organizations of all sizes.
- Rose Mistri Somers, Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates, based in New York and Boston, serves as a senior leader in the biotech and pharmaceuticals practice. Rose's focus spans Board and C-suite build out across the emerging growth biotech space, to search and leadership development work within the large cap realm. She is a also a member of Russell Reynolds Associates' financial officers practice, with broader sector coverage across healthcare, consumer and technology industries.
New Council Officers for 2024
AESC Americas Council officer positions are as follows: Matrice Ellis Kirk, Chief Executive Officer of Ellis Kirk Group in Dallas, will now serve as Chair. Pilar Brogeras, Managing Director, Global Leader Startups and Scale-ups, Stanton Chase – Mexico City, will now serve as Vice Chair.
The Complete 2024 AESC Council of the Americas
- Matrice Ellis Kirk, Ellis Kirk Group, Chair – Dallas
- Pilar Brogeras, Stanton Chase, Vice Chair – Mexico City
- Karen Greenbaum, AESC, Ex-officio – New York
- Sandra Olive Bäcker, Bäcker & Partners / AltoPartners – Buenos Aires
- Sherrie Barch, Furst Group / IIC Partners – Chicago
- Shaun Carpenter, PFM Executive Search / Panorama Search – Vancouver
- Michael S. Castleman, WittKieffer – Palm Beach Gardens
- Nick Chambers, Boyden – Toronto
- Nordia Edwards, Spencer Stuart – New York
- Nona Footz, Coulter Partners – New York
- Rodrigo Foz Forte, EXEC – Executive Performance / Panorama – São Paulo
- Gabriel Gonzalez, GOSECO International Executive Search – San Diego
- Ryan Grant, The Grant Partners – Atlanta
- Lindsay Griesmeyer, RSR Partners – New York
- Julian Ha, Heidrick & Struggles – Washington, DC
- Jonas Hedin, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen / Penrhyn International – Charlotte
- Daniel W. Heiman, Cornerstone International Group – Kansas City
- Molly Hull, Slayton Search Partners – Chicago
- Michele James, Avery James Inc. – Los Angeles
- John Marshall, JM Search – King of Prussia, PA
- Nicolás Mora Schrader, Equation Partners / AltoPartners – Santiago
- Jason Murray, BIPOC Executive Search – Toronto
- Chris Pantelidis, EMA Partners – New York
- Denielle Pemberton-Heard, Diversified Search Group – Washington, DC
- Bridget Papanicholas, TRANSEARCH – Chicago
- Carol Robinson, Harbour West Consulting – North Vancouver, BC
- Jessica Rudish, Rudish Health – Boca Raton, FL
- Ranju Shergill, Pekarsky & Co. – Calgary
- Jennifer Silvester, Silvester & Company – Salt Lake City
- Rose Mistri Somers, Russell Reynolds Associates – New York
- David Turner, Kincannon & Reed – Phoenix
- Thayanie Ujino, FESA Group / IIC Partners – São Paulo
- Conrad Woody, Odgers Berndtson – Washington, DC
AESC ADDS EIGHT EMEA COUNCIL MEMBERS
Clare Mahon, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, commented, "The diverse expertise and unwavering dedication the EMEA Council members bring to our profession will propel us toward new heights of success in 2024. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with them."
New Council Members for 2024
- Thorsten Amend-Schnaar, Frankfurt-based Executive Partner at Höchsmann & Company GmbH & Co. KG, has provided executive search and leadership consulting since 2013. He primarily supports medium-sized companies, family-owned companies and international corporations in search, succession planning, coaching and management appraisals.
- Alice Breeden, London-based Partner and Regional Co-Managing Partner of the CEO & Board of Directors Practice in Europe and Africa at Heidrick and Struggles, has over 20 years of experience working at the senior executive and board level. She leads work with boards and leadership teams worldwide on a range of talent advisory issues.
- Alex Essaid, Dubai-based Partner at Rasd, has led high-impact executive search mandates across various sectors including family groups, investment conglomerates, construction, government, and renewable energy since 2013. His contributions have driven innovation and the development of the firm's services to provide greater value to clients in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- Dalil Guendouz, Paris and Casablanca-based Partner at Exec Avenue, uses his multi-cultural CEO experience and expertise to provide executive search, interim management, leadership consulting and board services to Moroccan and international companies in Morocco, Sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
- Michael Barrington Hibbert, London-based Founder, CEO and Global Managing Partner for Barrington Hibbert Associates Financial Services Practice, has advised multiple FTSE 100 firms over the years, with a global track record across C-Suite appointments covering both the buy and sell sides.
- Julia Scheffer, Johannesburg-based Global Director of Business Development at AltoPartners, is the global brand custodian and communications/marketing lead for the partnership, an invited member of the Global Operating Committee and responsible for new partner search activity.
- Olivia Sharp, London based Partner in the HR Practice for Eton Bridge Partners, specialises in Chief People Officer and wider HR roles globally, and has a practitioner background in HR, gained in various senior positions in a FTSE100 environment. Olivia also has extensive general management experience and specialist interests in wellbeing, particularly its relationship with organisational performance, in industrial relations and in socio-economic inclusion.
- Elena Terol, Madrid-based Managing Partner at Cornerstone International Group, has more than 25 years of experience working at executive search companies such as Russell Reynolds and AMROP. Used to working for multinational companies, Elena has become a specialist consultant in Financial Services, Consumer Goods, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Luxury, Retail Distribution Real Estate, and Leisure & Entertainment sectors.
2024 Council Officers
The 2024 AESC EMEA Council officers are: Tim Sheffield, Chairman of Sheffield Haworth, acting EMEA Council Chair. Kristen Smit, Managing Partner at Boyden, acting Vice Chair. Joe Coulter, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Coulter Partners, Chair Emeritus.
The Complete 2024 AESC Council of Europe, Africa & Middle East
- Tim Sheffield, Sheffield Haworth, Chair – London
- Kristen Smit, Boyden, Vice Chair – Paris
- Joe Coulter, Coulter Partners, Chair Emeritus and Chair, Regional & Global Membership Committees – London
- Karen Greenbaum, AESC, Ex-officio – New York
- Thorsten Amend-Schnaar, Höchsmann & Company GmbH & Co. KG – Frankfurt
- Emanuela Aureli, Spencer Stuart – London
- Jennifer Borrer, Borrer Executive Search – Lausanne
- Jacques Bouwens, Russell Reynolds Associates – Amsterdam
- Alice Breeden, Heidrick & Struggles – London
- Tom Christensen, Stanton Chase – Norway
- Oana Ciornei, Amrop Romania – Bucharest
- Manuel Clavel, Talengo / Panorma – Barcelona
- Alex Essaid, Rasd – Dubai
- Dalil Guendouz, Exec Avenue – Casablanca
- Raffaele Jacovelli, Hightech Partners – Brussels
- Ewa Kuszelewski, Michaël Berglund AB / IIC Partners – Stockholm
- Marcus Meyer, Meyer & Sohne GmbH / ECI Group – Bocholt, Germany
- Bernard Perry, TRANSEARCH – London
- Julia Scheffer, AltoPartners – Johannesburg
- Kester Scrope, Odgers Berndtson – London
- Olivia Sharp, Eton Bridge Partners – Windsor
- Elena Terol, Cornerstone International Group – Madrid
- Annelize van Rensburg, Signium – Johannesburg
- Patrycja Weglorz, EMA Partners – Poland
- Sophie Wigniolle, Eric Salmon & Partners, Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee – Paris
FOUR NEW AESC APAC COUNCIL MEMBERS SELECTED
Sarah Mortimer, Managing Director, APAC, commented, "I am delighted to welcome new officers and representatives to the AESC APAC Council. I look forward to working with all APAC Council members, whose diverse expertise and strong commitment to the profession will drive us toward success in 2024."
New Council Members for 2024
- Steven Greenberg, Partner-in-Charge of the Tokyo office at Heidrick & Struggles, has more than 15 years of executive search experience in Japan and Asia Pacific. He is a core member of the CEO, Board and Financial Services practices, and has successfully led search, succession and board appointments across a range of sectors including insurance, banking, asset management, private equity and beyond.
- Alistair Macrae, Melbourne-based Managing Director, leads Russell Reynolds Associates' Australian operations. He focuses on Chief Financial Officer search and assessment and is also a member of the firm's Board and CEO practice.
- Steven McKinney, Seoul-based Founder and President of McKinney Consulting / Kestria, has over 23 years of high-performance executive search and leadership consulting solutions to his multinational clients in the Industrial, Consumer Goods, Technology and other industries in Korea.
- Patrick Rooney, Wellington-based Associate Director of Sheffield, is an executive search thought leader and practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry globally and locally. He focuses on partnering with clients in the public and private sectors, ranging from higher education to local government, to appoint key talent.
New Council Officers for 2024
2024 AESC APAC Council officers: Nobi Kaneko, President and Managing Partner of Kaneko & Associates, has been appointed as APAC Council Chair. K Sudarshan, Managing Director of EMA Partners, has been appointed as Vice Chair.
The Complete 2024 AESC APAC Council
- Nobi Kaneko, Kaneko & Associates, Chair – Tokyo
- K Sudarshan, EMA Partners, Vice Chair – Mumbai
- Karen Greenbaum, AESC, Ex-officio – New York
- Sonal Agrawal, AltoPartners / Accord India – Mumbai
- Wai-Leong Chan, Eric Salmon & Partners – Singapore
- Nancy Chu, Cornerstone International Group – Hong Kong
- Agamjeet Dang, Executive Access/Panorama – Mumbai
- Shalija Dutt, Stellar Search – Delhi
- Sean Garvey, Odgers Berndtson – Sydney
- Steven Greenberg, Heidrick & Struggles – Tokyo
- Phillip Guest, Pacific Talent Partners – Sydney
- CK Guruprasad, Spencer Stuart – Bangalore
- Cecile Hofer, Amrop Hofer Tan, Chair, Membership Development – Singapore
- Stephen L. Irish, Ph.D., Boyden – Tokyo
- Liz Jones, Fisher Leadership – Melbourne
- Jiyeon Kim, Signium – Seoul
- Alistair Macrae, Russell Reynolds Associates – Melbourne
- Steven McKinney, McKinney Consulting | Kestria – Seoul
- Yen Pin Ng, Sheffield Haworth – Shanghai & Singapore
- Phillip Osborne, Kincannon & Reed, Chair, Nomination & Governance – Sydney
- Patrick Rooney, Sheffield – Wellington
- Warren Rushbrook, Quinton Anthony – Sydney
- Geoff Slade, TRANSEARCH – Melbourne
- Katherine Wang, Fitco-Consulting – Beijing
- Jacinta Whelan, Watermark Search – Melbourne
Media Contact
Martha Clement Rochford, AESC, + 1 (585) 789 0057, [email protected], aesc.org
SOURCE AESC

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