Close filter
Functions

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

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

Lisa Blais

Lisa Blais

Boston

US Lead

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

Kim Henderson

Kim Henderson

Washington, D.C. Office Leader

Kim Henderson, Managing Partner of Egon Zehnder’s Washington, D.C. office, previously led the firm’s Consumer Practice for the Americas. Read more

Olli Laurén

Olli Laurén

Washington, D.C.

Olli Laurén serves as Managing Partner in Washington D.C. He also leads 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rebecca Spaulding

Rebecca Spaulding

New York

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

It starts with the CEO

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

Explore the study

Thought Leadership | Chief Executive Officers

Read more insights
Blazing a Trail: Women in Leadership

Blazing a Trail: Women in Leadership

Radhika Gupta, CEO of Edelweiss Asset Management, delves into the experiences that have shaped her as a leader. Read more

Savage x Fenty: What’s Next for Company After Rihanna Resigned as CEO?

Savage x Fenty: What’s Next for Company After Rihanna Resigned as CEO?

Egon Zehnder's Sarah van Dyck has confirmed that Anthropologies' former CEO Hillary Super will succeed Rihanna as the CEO of Savage X Fenty. Read more

Beauty Marketer Make-Over

Beauty Marketer Make-Over

Beauty marketers have always been on the edge of innovation, setting trends and pushing boundaries. As the sector evolves, so does the CMO's role. Read more

Egon Zehnder Names Co-Leader of U.S. CEO and Board Practice

Egon Zehnder Names Co-Leader of U.S. CEO and Board Practice

Egon Zehnder appoints Charles Gray as Co-Leader of U.S. CEO & Board Practice with Lisa Blais to leverage global best practices, perspectives, & tools. Read more

CEO Succession in Future Mobility and DeepTech: The Candidate You Want Is Not the One You Need

CEO Succession in Future Mobility and DeepTech: The Candidate You Want Is Not the One You Need

DeepTech companies don't need to hit a wall in their CEO succession process. Here's what they should avoid and what to consider in a… Read more

Transformation in the Energy Industry

Transformation in the Energy Industry

Energy companies are balancing rapid transformation while navigating the impact of this shift on leaders and their teams. To remain relevant and innovative, energy companies… Read more

Why Decentralized Companies Outperform Their Industrial Peers

Why Decentralized Companies Outperform Their Industrial Peers

Common language, ownership mindset, and culture of discontent contribute to this organizational structure’s success. Read more

From

From "Good" to "Best"

Wabtec Corporation President & CEO Rafael Santana shares his journey as a Latino leader and the value of putting teams and customers first. Read more

CEO Insights

CEO Insights

The CEO Insights Series shares our latest and best thinking on the most definitive topics affecting CEO leadership and performance today. Read more

Corporate Governance Exchange: Former President of PepsiCo Inc, Zein Abdalla, on the Nominations Committee and Leadership Transition

Corporate Governance Exchange: Former President of PepsiCo Inc, Zein Abdalla, on the Nominations Committee and Leadership Transition

Read on for the key takeaways from an engaging discussion on the future of cultivating and transitioning leaders, from CEOs to board members. Read more

It starts with the CEO

It starts with the CEO

Survey of nearly 1,000 global CEOs reveals recent social and economic challenges drove unprecedented levels of self-reflection and development – changing CEO perspectives and… Read more

CEOs: Architects of Prosperity

CEOs: Architects of Prosperity

CEO performance has been redefined by rising expectations and growing complexity. To show this transformation, Egon Zehnder profiled six exceptional CEOs who are working… Read more

Changing language
Close icon

You are switching to an alternate language version of the Egon Zehnder website. The page you are currently on does not have a translated version. If you continue, you will be taken to the alternate language home page.

Continue to the website

Back to top