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Chief Executive Officers

At Egon Zehnder, we have spent more than 50 years advising clients on chief executive leadership succession, recruitment, and professional development all over the world. We recognize that the selection of a CEO is the midpoint of a process, not the end. And for everyone involved, from the executive to the board of directors, to employees and key stakeholders, the appointment is merely a moment in a multidimensional transition. Therefore, we believe it is important to partner with our clients to deliver a comprehensive and effective CEO transition, succession, and onboarding protocol.

Over the past five years, we have applied our own future-oriented, proprietary approach to more than 1,800 CEO mandates. We understand that the Chief Executive role is unique, particularly in the current atmosphere of complexity and volatility. These uncertainties require a pragmatic and aligned view on the business and leadership requirements of the CEO, one that must be reviewed regularly over the course of a transition.

For maximum impact, we aim to partner with our clients in all aspects of the CEO leadership journey. That journey begins by aligning with your board regarding the company's future transformational needs and CEO requirements. We then help you build a compelling internal pipeline of senior leaders with CEO potential by identifying, assessing, and advising them on their development journey. This process builds a strong top team and helps create support for the selected CEO. Working with our own global industry practices, we have access to the best external candidates. We assess them based on the same robust and comprehensive methodology that we use with internal candidates.

The CEO transition process also means working hand-in-hand with your board of directors to develop a clear, workable succession plan — one that enables executives to transform their leadership strengths through our heralded Executive Breakthrough Program, developed and facilitated in tandem with Mobius Executive Leadership. Once you’ve chosen your leader, our “Accelerated CEO Impact” service supports the executive onboarding. This bespoke program begins before the CEO’s first day and helps make their first 100 days and beyond a success.


Chief Executive Officers 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

Thorsten Gerhard

Thorsten Gerhard

Stuttgart

Local Lead

Based in Stuttgart, Thorsten Gerhard leads Egon Zehnder’s CEO and Board Consulting Practice in Germany. He advises on CEO succession and executive… Read more

Elke Hofmann

Elke Hofmann

Munich Office Leader

Local Lead

Based in Munich, Elke Hofmann heads Egon Zehnder’s Munich office and leads the CEO & Board Advisory Practice in Germany. Read more

Olli Laurén

Olli Laurén

Washington, D.C. Office Leader

Olli Laurén serves as Managing Partner in Washington D.C. He also leads Egon Zehnder’s Global Machinery & Industrial Technology practice. Read more

Kim Henderson

Kim Henderson

Washington, D.C.

Kim Henderson is a founding member of Egon Zehnder’s Washington, D.C. office and leads the Firm’s Consumer Practice Group for the Americas in addition… 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

Alan Hilliker

Alan Hilliker

New York

Alan Hilliker, based in New York, is a member of Egon Zehnder’s U.S. Board Consulting and CEO practices. Read more

Kal Bittianda

Kal Bittianda

New York

Based in New York and the Leader of Egon Zehnder’s Technology & Communications Americas Practice, Kal Bittianda is passionate about disruptive… Read more

Calvin Yee

Calvin Yee

New York, Los Angeles

Calvin Yee, based in New York and Los Angeles, is the Head, Global Media, & Entertainment, a leader in the Sports & Digital Practice and serves… Read more

David Noble

David Noble

New York

David Noble is globally trusted by CEOs and their teams, boards of directors, investors and star athletes to help them crack high-stakes leadership… Read more

Rebecca Spaulding

Rebecca Spaulding

New York

Rebecca Spaulding is a key member of Egon Zehnder’s Leadership Advisory and Financial Services groups. Read more

Kshitij Mohta

Kshitij Mohta

New York

Kshitij Mohta, based in New York, operates at the intersection of Health and private equity, working both with growth equity and large, multinational… Read more

Twinkle Gupta

Twinkle Gupta

New York

Based in New York, Twinkle Gupta is active in Egon Zehnder’s Technology & Communications Practice, focusing on chief executive officers and chief… Read more

Ashley Ma

Ashley Ma

New York

Based in New York, Ashley Ma is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Financial Services and Technology and Communications Practices. Read more

Carol Kauffman

Carol Kauffman

Boston

Carol is known globally as one of the top leaders in the field of leadership coaching. She has been on the faculty of Harvard for 30 years… Read more

Lisa Blais

Lisa Blais

Boston

Lisa Blais serves on Egon Zehnder’s Board of Directors and leads the firm’s US Board Practice. She also recently served as Managing Partner of the… Read more

It starts with the CEO

972 global CEOs share their perspective on the future of CEO leadership.

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Thought Leadership | Chief Executive Officers

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