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What We Do

Board Advisory Services

Shareholders and society as a whole now expect much more from boards of directors, as part of increased scrutiny of our institutions. In addition, there is a growing demand from senior executives for their boards to provide judgment and wisdom on how to “do things better,” taking advantage of global and technological opportunities while avoiding traps and ensuring growth and sustainability.

At Egon Zehnder, we welcome this higher level of scrutiny and stand ready to work with you as partners in building the best boards of directors possible. Through more than 3,600 international board-consulting assignments in the past five years, we have accumulated insight on a broad range of topics that boards will encounter. Our experience goes well beyond executive search to build on nearly 50 years of learning how board directors can have the greatest impact, both individually and collectively.

We take particular pride in our deep experience helping boards of directors source and develop leadership talent, both on the board and in CEO succession projects. With 63 global offices in 36 countries, we are able to identify, assess, and develop director candidates all over the world. The collective expertise of our consultants — all of whom had significant careers in business before coming to our firm — allows us to better understand and anticipate your talent requirements in this area. Our wide reach also enables us to be creative when it comes to talent solutions; you can expect to meet candidates who don’t show up in traditional databases and who bring diversity of all kinds.

Our board work has three main components. With each of them, we leverage our unique global reach and equal partnership compensation model to make sure that everything we do has a singular focus: bringing better leadership to the boardroom. We invite you to experience true partnership as you build a more effective board.



Board Advisory Services Consultants

Ashley Summerfield

Ashley Summerfield

London

Global Lead

Ashley Summerfield leads Egon Zehnder’s global CEO and Board Consulting Practice. He is a trusted advisor to scores of prestigious clients around the… Read more

Charles Gray

Charles Gray

New York

US Lead

Charles “Chuck” Gray, based in New York, co-leads Egon Zehnder's newly formed US CEO and Board Practice. Read more

Michael Portland

Michael Portland

Chicago

Michael Portland is a member of Egon Zehnder’s CEO and Board Consulting practices and has deep expertise in CEO and C-suite succession, executive… Read more

Karl Alleman

Karl Alleman

Chicago

Karl Alleman has a long track record of helping large multinationals, family-owned enterprises, and private equity firms solve their most important… Read more

Alex Santos

Alex Santos

Chicago

Based in Chicago, Alex Santos focuses on helping clients recruit general managers and functional leaders as well as assess their internal talent. Read more

Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson

Chicago

Pat Robinson, based in Chicago, is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Services and Industrial Practices. He is also active in the firms Supply… Read more

Angus Finlay

Angus Finlay

Chicago

Angus (Rory) Finlay is a Senior Advisor in Egon Zehnder’s global Consumer Practice. He draws on his deep industry and consulting experience to advise… Read more

Meg Reynolds

Meg Reynolds

Chicago

Based in Chicago, Meg Reynolds is active in Egon Zehnder’s Technology Practice, focusing on the communications and enterprise technology sectors. Read more

Jessica Watson

Jessica Watson

Washington, D.C.

Jessica Watson is one of the co-founders of Egon Zehnder’s Washington, DC office and currently leads the firm’s Health Practice for the Americas… Read more

Olli Laurén

Olli Laurén

Washington, D.C.

Olli Lauren serves as a senior adviser in Washington DC. He is also a member of Egon Zehnder’s Global Machinery & Industrial Technology practice. Read more

Christoph Wollersheim

Christoph Wollersheim

Washington, D.C.

Christoph Wollersheim, based in Washington, D.C., supports clients as a member of Egon Zehnder’s Services Practice and Artificial Intelligence… Read more

Jeff Otto

Jeff Otto

Atlanta, Palo Alto

Jeff Otto is the leader of Egon Zehnder’s Engineering and Research & Development Officers Practice. He also leads the North America Semiconductor… Read more

James Stark

James Stark

Atlanta

James Stark, based in Atlanta, is active in Egon Zehnder’s CFO and Audit Chair, Industrial, and Private Capital practices. He is passionate about… Read more

Ian Bolin

Ian Bolin

Atlanta, Detroit

Ian Bolin, based in Atlanta and Detroit, leads Egon Zehnder’s Global Automotive and Mobility Practice. Read more

Kal Bittianda

Kal Bittianda

New York

Based in New York, Kal Bittianda is passionate about disruptive technology and digital transformation. He advises Boards… Read more

Anne-Claire Monod

Anne-Claire Monod

New York

Anne-Claire Monod is a sought-out advisor to industrial businesses who has developed trusted relationships with Fortune 500 corporations as well as… Read more


Thought Leadership | Board Advisory Services

Read more insights
The Path to the Boardroom

The Path to the Boardroom

A practical guide to landing your first corporate board seat. Interviewing for First-Time Board Service: read successful strategies for meeting the unique challenges of… Read more

2022/23 Global Board Diversity Tracker: Who's Really on Board?

2022/23 Global Board Diversity Tracker: Who's Really on Board?

For over 18 years, Egon Zehnder has been tracking boardroom diversity around the world. The 2022–2023 Global Board Diversity Tracker captures the progress that… Read more

Boards Directors Are Going Digital. Why You Should Too.

Boards Directors Are Going Digital. Why You Should Too.

The ‘digital board’ has become a prerequisite for securing long-term success, effectively managing talent, and mitigating risks within the company. Read more

Distilling ESG drivers of enterprise value and the role of corporate boards

Distilling ESG drivers of enterprise value and the role of corporate boards

Corporate boards significantly influence the perceptions through their oversight duties of how much enterprise value creation comes from non-financial resources - many of which… Read more

The Role of the Board in Crisis

The Role of the Board in Crisis

Egon Zehnder’ Directors Development Program held a session on this topic led by Sunil Mehta, former Chair of PNB and Yes Bank, in which… Read more

Regulators' Perspective for Boards

Regulators' Perspective for Boards

One of the sessions of Egon Zehnder’s Directors Development Program looked at board governance from the perspective of the regulator, as well as how… Read more

Managing Leadership and Transformation in the Boardroom

Managing Leadership and Transformation in the Boardroom

Digital transformation and AI have opened up exciting opportunities for business, but also require board members to execute management strategies. Read more

How Committees Can Effectively Tackle the 'Nitty-Gritty' of Board Agendas

How Committees Can Effectively Tackle the 'Nitty-Gritty' of Board Agendas

Join the discussion on board committees with Egon Zehnder's Directors Development Program. Gain insights on unique responsibilities and maximizing productivity. Read more

Creating Efficient Board Processes, From Agendas to Action

Creating Efficient Board Processes, From Agendas to Action

In July, Egon Zehnder hosted a Directors Development Program session titled “Board Processes.” The event featured Sanjiv Sachar, an Independent Director & NRC Chair… Read more

Best Practices of High Performing Boards

Best Practices of High Performing Boards

In a recent session, Egon Zehnder explored “Best Practices of High-Performing Boards.” Led by Dinesh Khara, chairman of the State Bank of India, the… Read more

Enhancing Board Performance through Evaluations

Enhancing Board Performance through Evaluations

Explore best practices in board evaluation with Egon Zehnder’s Directors Development Program.” In this session, former Egon Zehnder Senior Partner Sanjiv Sachar shares insights… Read more

Defining the Board’s Role in Embedding Shared Purpose

Defining the Board’s Role in Embedding Shared Purpose

To learn more about the growing importance of shared purpose in today’s environment, Egon Zehnder’ Directors Development Program held a session on the topic… Read more

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