How can firms and female managers accelerate slow progress with gender diversity? In an interview with the Handelszeitung Egon Zehnder consultant Simone Stebler advises female professionals to find a sponsor.

Digital transformation is driving demand for business engineers, reports the German daily Main-Echo. “Business engineers are particularly relevant today because they straddle two worlds,” explains Thorsten Gerhard, Egon Zehnder’s Industrial Practice Leader.

“The extent to which top leaders can determine a company’s culture is incredible,” notes Egon Zehnder’s Philippe Hertig in an interview with the Swiss daily Handelszeitung.

J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler stepped down Monday (June 5) after 14 years at the helm, unable to arrest the upscale clothing chain’s slide. Drexler, the former CEO of Gap Inc., was an Apple board member who helped Steve Jobs create the first Apple stores.

The CISO role continues to evolve and is now more varied and critical than ever before.

The consumer products sector is in the midst of dramatic change. Manufacturers are reconfiguring through mergers and spinoffs. Retailers undergo consolidation and pricing pressure as ecommerce takes a growing share of wallet.

Onboarding is an apt term for how many companies support new leaders’ transitions, because – like helping someone onto a ship – there’s not much more to the process than bringing the executive safely on deck. From there on, he or she is expected to know what to do or sort it out with little or no guidance.

Japan Inc. may be shortchanging some key executives. Outside board members in Japan seem to be underpaid, considering that they are now expected to play a central role in the reform of the country's corporate governance.

As more and more organizations undertake digitalization and innovation initiatives, they are turning to the chief data officer (CDO) to help them fully leverage those investments. While the role still is evolving, its broad outlines are clear.

US Midwest firms have failed to adapt to international competition and face ongoing disruption driven by globalization and technological change, writes Egon Zehnder’s Karl W. Alleman.