Interactive Table: The 150 Most Influential Headhunters in the World

Full Profiles of the top 150 headhunters, Part 1

Full Profiles of the top 150 headhunters, Part 2

Slide Show and miniprofiles of top recruiters, Part 1

Slide Show and miniprofiles of top recruiters, Part 2

Special Report on world's top executive recruiters

Sort by recruiting firm, companies headhunters recruit for, sector and job specialties, and other key data points

In selecting the 150 recruiters for our exclusive list of the World's Most Influential Headhunters, BusinessWeek considered a number of factors, including: their individual reputations; their years of headhunting experience; the global scope of their recruiting practices; their accessibility and responsiveness; their high visibility within the client markets they serve; the recognition they enjoy within their firms and/or global executive search communities.

Except where indicated, the information was provided in response to a BusinessWeek survey. There were a very few recruiters who declined to participate that we nevertheless included because of their prominence and importance in the field. The information for them was gleaned from various sources, including company Web sites and other public information. Those designated with an * are the ones who declined to participate.

Please note that this list of the 150 Most Influential Headhunters in the World is an expanded version of our original list, which included only 50 and was published in February, 2008.

Click column heading once to reorder from highest to lowest. Click twice to reorder from lowest to highest.
Name
Title
Firm
Sector
Function
Geo Focus
Recruit for
Ulrich F. Ackermann  Managing partner, board memberTransearch Intl. DeutschlandConsumer goods, financial services, IT and professional services, auto industry, board servicesC-suite, consulting firm partnersEuropeAdidas; JPMorgan Chase; IBM; PricewaterhouseCoopers
Alfredo José Assumpção  CEO, partnerFESA Global RecruitersFinancial services, consumer products, retailCEOs, corporate finance managing directors and other senior officers, human capital directors, marketing and sales directors, CFOsBrazil, other parts of Latin AmericaUnibanco; Banco Itau; Novartis; Microsoft; Avon
Jim Bagley  Managing directorRussell Reynolds AssociatesConsumer, financial services, health care, industrial/natural resources, technologyHuman Resources (including leadership for the various disciplines, i.e. talent, organizational development, compensation & benefits, etc.); Board of DirectorsGlobalGiven that my primary practice is the recruitment of HR officers, I will often be asked to recruit the top HR officer or, selectively, members of their team. As a result, my target companies vary from year to year.
Ignacio Bao  ChairmanSignium Intl.Investment banking, private banking, private equity, law practice, consultingBoard directors, CEOs, law/consulting senior partners, CFOs, senior bankersEuropeBBVA; Santander; PricewaterhouseCoopers; A.T. Kearney; Ernst & Young
Jean-Michel Beigbeder  President, CEOJean-Michel Beigbeder & Partners--CEO Search SAInvestment bankingCEOs, chairmen, CFOs, CHRs, board membersNALVMH; Peugeot; Merrill Lynch; Credit Suisse; PPR Pinaul Printempts Redoute
Robert L. Benson  ChairmanSlayton Search PartnersBoard consulting, financial services: insurance, banking, investment management; industrial: power generationBoard directors, CEOs, marketing, HR, business development/strategyNorth America, Western EuropeGeneral Electric; ACE Ltd.; UNUM; Shawmut Bank; Prudential Life
Linda Bialecki  PresidentBialecki Inc.Investment banking, hedge funds, private equity, investment managementHighly customized position/client requirements requiring deep due diligence and assessment; investment bankers; risk management; credit and market risk; senior analysts; credit and structured products; investment professionalsAmericas, EuropeConfidential
Robert J. Brudno  Managing directorSavoy PartnersDefense/aerospace; high-tech/IT/communications; professional services/consulting; health careCEOs, COOs, CFOs, senior marketing and business development executives, general management, board membersU.S., some internationalBooz Allen Hamilton ; SAIC ; ITT ; Computer Sciences Corp.; SRA International
Dennis Carey  Senior client partnerKorn/Ferry Intl.All industries and sectorsBoard directors, CEOs, senior executivesGlobalTyco; 3M; Northrop Grumman; GlaxoSmithKline; Sprint Nextel/Embarq
Jim Citrin*  Senior directorSpencer StuartTechnology, communications and media; hotels; private equity, financial servicesCEOs, CFOs, board directorsNorth AmericaYahoo!; Microsoft;Eastman Kodak;Starwood Hotels
Christopher John Clarke  President, CEOBoyden WorldExecutive searchBoard effectiveness, executive searchGlobalBoyden World
Michael James "Jim" Conroy  Chairman, founding partnerConroy Ross PartnersEnergy, nonprofit, financialBoard directors, executives, CFOs, marketing, business developmentPrimarily Western CanadaNexen; Burlington/ConocoPhillips; Western Oil Sands; Plains Marketing; Verenex
Peter D. Crist  ChairmanCrist AssociatesAll sectors and industriesC-suite, board directorsU.S.McDonald's; Kraft Foods; Allstate; McKesson; Ecolab
Robert Damon  President, North AmericaKorn/Ferry Intl.Consumer, retail, sports/entertainment, private equity, hospitality/leisureCEOs, GMs, board directorsNorth AmericaUnder Armour; Easton-Bell Sports; Oakley; Burger King ; Texas Pacific Group
Julie Hembrock Daum*  Practice leader, North American Board ServicesSpencer StuartBoard services, diversity, education and nonprofit, financial services, private equityBoard directorsNorth AmericaDelta Air Lines; Tyco spin-off companies; American Express ; General Mills ; New York Times
Peter de Jong  Managing director, regional VP--EMEAStanton Chase InternationalConsumer products and services, business to business/foodservices; life sciences & pharmaGMs, senior marketing, sales, HR, and finance executivesPrimarily EMEA and NetherlandsCSM, Heineken, Unilever, LG Electronics, Lamb Weston
Sylvain Dhenin  Managing partnerCTPartnersProfessional and IT services, manufacturing and energy, private equity, technology, telecommunicationsCEOs, business unit managers, HR, partners, CIOsEuropeCapgemini; Alstom; Areva; IBM; Thomson
Bruce Dingman*  PresidentThe Dingman Co.NAC-suite, presidents, GMs, board directors, VPsGlobalPleasant Travel; Herschend Family Entertainment; Azusa Pacific Univ.; Strongtower Financial; Jones Lang Lasalle
Theodore L. Dysart  Managing Partner of the Americas, Global Board of Directors PracticeHeidrick & Struggles Intl.Board recruiting, industrial, consumer, financial servicesBoard recruiting, CEO/succession planningU.S.Kimberly Clark; Reynolds American; RR Donnelley; Terex; Liberty Mutual
Janice Reals Ellig  Co-CEOChadick ElligInsurance/retirement markets, banking, asset/investment management, private equity, specialized structured productsBoard directors, GMs, marketing/communications, HR, sales distribution, product developmentU.S.Lincoln Financial Group; U.S. Bank; MBIA; Celtic Pharma Bio Tech; Ambac
Claudio Fernandez-Araoz*  PartnerEgon Zehnder Intl.AllNAGlobalNR
Claudio A. Fernaud  Regional VP, Latin AmericaStanton Chase Intl.Financial servicesC-suite, directors, upper managementArgentina, UruguayToyota Credit; Amadeus; NCR-Teradata; Prosegur; BNP Bank
Richard Fudickar  Managing partnerBoyden Intl.Fast-moving consumer goods, retail, service industry, publishing/advertising, global technology, industrial/automotiveCEOs, division heads/business unit leaders, CFOs, board members, marketing, sales, communicationsGlobalConfidential
Sakie T. Fukushima  Regional Managing Director, JapanKorn/Ferry Intl.Consumer, retail, finance (advisory boards), consulting, industrialC-suite, advisory board members, marketing/communication/sales directorsNAConfidential
Jay Gaines  President, CEOJay Gaines & Co.Financial services, banking and securities, asset management, transaction processing and business process outsourcing, information-based businesses, HR consultingGeneral management, C-suite, IT, operations, finance, risk managementNorth America, BritainFidelity Investments ; Washington Mutual; Wellington Management ; Morgan Stanley ; Vanguard
John T. Gardner  Vice-chairmanHeidrick & StrugglesIndustrial, consumerCEOs, board directorsGlobalBHP Billiton; Owens-Illinois; Allied Waste; Phelps Dodge; Walter Industries
Bob Gattie  DirectorAmrop HeverFinancial/professional services, health care, infocommunications, manufacturingCEOs, MDs, chief functional officers, regional headsSoutheast AsiaConfidential
James W. Gauss  President, CEOWitt/KiefferHealth systems, hospitals, higher education, academic medical centers, children's hospitalsC-suite, presidents, corporate officers/health systems, physician executivesU.S.Catholic Healthcare West; Phoenix Children's Hospital; Scottsdale Healthcare; Palomar Pomerado Health; Presbyterian Health System
Charles A. Geoly  Managing directorRussell Reynolds AssociatesTechnology (broadly defined), industrial/manufacturing-based business, servicesCEOs, board members, GMsGlobalConfidential
Trina Gordon  ChairmanBoyden WorldConsumer products, industrial products, digital technology/media, health care/insurance, distribution servicesBoard directors, presidents, C-suiteGlobalConfidential
Joseph E. Griesedieck  Vice-chairmanKorn/Ferry Intl.Consumer goods and services, health-care services, financial services, industrial products and servicesBoard members, CEOs, CFOsNAConfidential
Michele C. Heid  Managing partner, Financial Officers PracticeHeidrick & Struggles Intl.Financial officers (functional expertise); industrial, life sciences, technology, consumer (industry practice)CFOs, corporate controllers, treasurers, investor relations, VP--auditU.S.Cisco; Merck; Wyeth; Intuit; Unisys
Jeff Hodge  Chairman, CEOHodge/Niederer/Cariani/LindsayHealth care, financial, professional services, energy, technologyCEOs, CHROs, board directors, CFOsNorth AmericaConfidential
David H. Hoffmann  Chairman, CEODHR InternationalAll industries and sectorsC-suite, board directorsU.S.NR
Durant "Andy" Hunter  Managing partnerRidgeway PartnersFinancial services, investment management, general CEO/C-level, boards, energy/chemicalsGeneral management, CEOs, CFOs, board directors, senior financial servicesInternationalLehman Brothers; CalPERS; NYSE Euronext; VeraSun Energy; Arch Chemicals
John M. Isaacson  President, managing directorIsaacson, MillerUniversity leadership, academic medicinePresidents, provosts, deans, related rolesU.S., occasional internationalUniv. of Pennsylvania, New York Univ., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Univ. of Connecticut, Univ. of Vermont
Mark Jaffe  PresidentWyatt & JaffeFinancial services, technology, consumer, retail, multimediaC-suite, private wealth managersInternationalBank of America; Washington Mutual; General Electric; Gateway; CB Richard Ellis
Dr. Bjorn Johansson  Chairman, CEODr. Bjørn Johansson AssociatesNo specialtyNonexecutive/executive board members, CEOs, CFOsGlobalConfidential
Janet Jones-Parker  Managing directorJones-Parker/StarrExecutive-search firmsHR, tbl_reports_recruitersU.S., EuropeConfidential
Edward Kelley  Chairman, CEOEdward W Kelley & PartnersFinancial services, energyCEOs, CFOs, investment banking headsGlobalConfidential
Claudia Lacy Kelly*  Leader, Human Resource PracticeSpencer StuartNULLHuman Resources leaders, CEOs, CFOs, and board membersNULLNR
Roger M. Kenny  PresidentBoardroom ConsultantsConsumer products, pharmaceuticals, industrial, financial services, health careBoard directors, chairmen, C-suiteU.S., Europe, AsiaE.I. Du Pont De Nemours; Pfizer; Ingersoll-Rand; Pitney Bowes; Citigroup
David Kimbell*  Co-Leader, European Board Services PracticeSpencer StuartCommunications, manufacturing, servicesChairman/CEO, non-executive directorsU.K., Continental Europe, North AmericaNR
Peter A. Kindler  Vice-chairmanBoardroom ConsultantsBanking, insurance, health care, manufacturing, service industryBoard directors, CFOs, CIOsGlobalUnited Technologies; Citigroup; Deutsche Bank; Quest Diagnostics; Wyeth
Scott E. Kingdom  Global managing director, Industrial MarketsKorn/Ferry Intl.Industrial discreet manufacturing, industrial/consumer durables, capital goods, multinational diversified industrial manufacturersCEOs, COOs, business unit leadersNorth America primarilyAvery Dennison; Bombardier; Schwanns; Ford Motor; Alcan
Pasi Koivusaari  Senior partnerBoyden WorldRetail, high-tech, banking/finance, fast-moving consumer goods, manufacturingC-suite, division heads, marketing/communications VPsFinland, EuropeConfidential
Marc Lamy  Managing director, partnerBoyden WorldFinancial services (banks, insurance, financial intermediaries); all sectors for board, CEO, and CFO searchesPrivate equity, investment management, private banking, risk management, board members, CEOs, CFOsEurope and particularly FranceSociété Générale; Credit Agricole ; Caisse Nationale des Caisses d’Epargne; Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild; Suez Group
Bobbie Lenga  Managing directorRussell Reynolds AssociatesRetail, leisure and hospitality, consumer services, apparel manufacturing, luxuryNAGlobalConfidential
Stephen P. Mader  Vice-chairman, managing director, Board ServicesKorn/Ferry Intl.All sectorsBoard directors, CEOsNorth AmericaHartford Financial Group; Newell Rubbermaid; Humana; Arrow Electronics; Navistar
Horacio J. McCoy  President, Mexico; Chairman, Latin AmericaKorn/Ferry Intl.Consumer products, banking/financial services, advanced technology, life sciencesCEOs, presidents, managing directors, board directors, finance/marketing VPs/directorsMexico, Latin AmericaConfidential
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* Recruiter chose not to participate in BusinessWeek's survey; information gathered from company Web site and other public sources