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What We Do

CEO Search

We recognize that the selection of a CEO is the midpoint of a process, not the end. 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.

You can count on our collaboration in all aspects of a CEO succession journey, which should be an ongoing planning process to deliver a comprehensive and effective CEO transition, succession and onboarding protocol.

We partner with you to ensure that you have developed the best possible internal options for potential CEO successors, and we can confidentially benchmark their readiness.

This process builds a strong top team and creates support for the selected CEO. The CEO transition process also means working hand-in-hand with your board of directors to develop a clear, workable succession plan that aligns with their long-term goals and vision.


CEO Search 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

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

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

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

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

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

Max Penning

Max Penning

Chicago

Based in Chicago, Max Penning is active in Egon Zehnder’s Industrial, Services, and Private Capital practices. He is a strategic advisor to global… Read more

Marwa Zohdy

Marwa Zohdy

Chicago

Based in Chicago, Marwa Joy Zohdy is an active member of Egon Zehnder’s global Health Practice. Read more

Niranjana Rajagopal

Niranjana Rajagopal

Chicago

Based in Chicago, Niranjana Rajagopal serves clients as an active member of Egon Zehnder’s Industrial Practice and Leadership Advisory. 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

Leticia McDonald

Leticia McDonald

Atlanta

Based in Atlanta, Leticia McDonald is an active member of Egon Zehnder’s Services Practice, focusing on Travel & Hospitality… 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

Patrick Lennon

Patrick Lennon

Atlanta

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Patrick Lennon is active in Egon Zehnder’s Consumer Products and Supply Chain & Operations practices. Read more

Eric Anderson

Eric Anderson

Atlanta, New York

Eric Anderson, based in Atlanta and New York, serves as the Global Co-Head of the Technology and Communications Practice. Read more


Thought Leadership | CEO Search

Read more insights
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

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

CEO Insights — Volume 43: Expanding the Leadership Container: Increasing CEOs' Capacity for Success

CEO Insights — Volume 43: Expanding the Leadership Container: Increasing CEOs' Capacity for Success

What are leaders finding they need to lean into and to develop further as sitting CEOs, and how can they accomplish this, all while… Read more

You Can Say, Carefully, 'I Don't Know,' Says Egon Zehnder CEO

You Can Say, Carefully, 'I Don't Know,' Says Egon Zehnder CEO

Edilson Camara, Global CEO of Egon Zehnder, in interview to Valor Econômico Read more

Unlocking Success: The Middle Market PE CEO’s Essential Role in Talent Management

Unlocking Success: The Middle Market PE CEO’s Essential Role in Talent Management

We've spoken to CEOs on their pivotal role in human capital, collaborating with CHROs, boards, and leadership for top talent priority in value creation. Read more

CEO Insights — Volume 41: Reaffirming the Business Case for DEI in a Post-Affirmative Action World

CEO Insights — Volume 41: Reaffirming the Business Case for DEI in a Post-Affirmative Action World

The commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity in businesses can – and should – stay on course. Read more

Product Leaders Can Make Great CEOs

Product Leaders Can Make Great CEOs

Discover how Product leaders are increasingly ascending to CEO positions, with 83% aspiring to become CEOs, according to a recent study by Egon Zehnder… Read more

Riding the Founder Succession Wave

Riding the Founder Succession Wave

Delved into the stories of 52 Founder CEOs who stepped down in the first half of 2023 to uncover the reasons behind their transitions. Read more

Blazing a Trail: Women in Leadership | Radhika Gupta

Blazing a Trail: Women in Leadership | Radhika Gupta

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

Blazing a Trail: Women in Leadership | Roshni Nadar Malhotra

Blazing a Trail: Women in Leadership | Roshni Nadar Malhotra

Roshni shares her journey to leadership, emphasizing the importance of intentionally acquiring skills to make a difference and the power of leading with purpose. Read more

The Trapping of a Founder

The Trapping of a Founder

After victoriously envisioning, creating, funding and launching a company, forces conspire to keep founders in that same leadership position forever, even as the role… Read more

AI Won’t Replace Human Distinctiveness

AI Won’t Replace Human Distinctiveness

The fear of AI making us obsolete has become increasingly popularized, but is it really necessary? But the truth is, AI is here to… Read more

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