Search
Select region
Close filter
What We Do

Board Effectiveness

Is your executive board as prepared as it needs to be, not just for today but for the next decade? More and more organizations are realizing that the only way to deal with the increasing pace of change is to have an effective board of directors that is flexible, creative, and open-minded to match.

This is a shift: Rather than focusing on avoiding risk, today’s best boards must see uncertainty as an inevitable part of both innovation and governance. However, an understanding that the ability to manage risk well can present its own opportunities and is another key marker of board effectiveness.

Egon Zehnder’s Approach To Board Effectiveness

With our Executive Assessment and Development Practice, we have created bespoke solutions to help give some of the most prestigious and complex organizations in the world a more effective board of directors. Our goal is to determine whether boards have the skill sets needed for the ever-evolving corporate landscape and, if they don’t, help them get there.

Sometimes that means working with existing candidates; sometimes it means recruiting new ones. Our work also applies to CEO succession planning, one of the most critical responsibilities a board has. Whatever the situation, we work with you to develop an outcome where your enterprise has the effective board it needs. We have been working closely with companies to improve board effectiveness for decades, helping them find the very best leaders for their most critical needs.


Board Effectiveness 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 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

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

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

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

James Satterthwaite

James Satterthwaite

Boston

Jamie Satterthwaite, based in Boston, leads the Firm’s North America Software practice. Read more

Dick Patton

Dick Patton

Boston

Dick Patton partners with clients on CEO succession, advisory, and search, in addition to providing board consulting and search, talent assessment… 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

Douglas Kush

Douglas Kush

Chicago

Doug Kush is a Partner in the Chicago office of Egon Zehnder. While at Egon Zehnder, he has held multiple leadership roles including Global Head of… Read more

Edilson Camara

Edilson Camara

Chicago, Toronto

Based in Chicago, Edilson Camara is Egon Zehnder’s Chief Executive Officer. Drawing on his deep experience in natural resources and heavy industry… Read more

Simmi Singh

Simmi Singh

Chicago, Washington, D.C.

Simmi Singh is based in Egon Zehnder’s Chicago office, and in her decade with the Firm, has played a founding and leadership role in the Firm’s… Read more

Angus Finlay

Angus Finlay

Chicago

Angus (Rory) Finlay, based in Chicago, leads Egon Zehnder’s global Consumer Practice. In these times of dynamic industry change and disruption… 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

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

Bernhard Scholl

Bernhard Scholl

Miami Office Leader

Bernhard Scholl, Egon Zehnder’s office leader in Miami, leads the Global Chemical and Process Industries Practice. Read more


Thought Leadership | Board Effectiveness

Read more insights
Are You Building a Cabinet or Building a Board?

Are You Building a Cabinet or Building a Board?

President Lincoln appointed three of his rivals to his cabinet. To outsiders, this seemed like a dangerous move, and that’s a profile in courageous… Read more

Bringing Action to Numbers: Turning Diverse Boards Into Inclusive Ones

Bringing Action to Numbers: Turning Diverse Boards Into Inclusive Ones

Since the turbulent summer of 2020, significant strides have been made across the world to diversify boards. The next level of the work is… Read more

Moving from Board Member to Board Leader

Moving from Board Member to Board Leader

In the last five years, boards in the United States have been more intentional about adding directors from underrepresented minorities. However, that same level… Read more

Enhancing Director Effectiveness

Enhancing Director Effectiveness

Check-out the key insights from our nine-month Directors Development Program, a collaboration with Harvard Business Publishing to enhance boardroom effectiveness. Read more

How Boards Can be ESG Leaders, Not Followers

How Boards Can be ESG Leaders, Not Followers

In June 2022, Egon Zehnder held the latest event in its Corporate Governance Exchange (CGX) series, which brings together chairs and Nomination & Remuneration… Read more

Becoming a Highly Effective Board Member

Becoming a Highly Effective Board Member

A discussion on the “what” of a high-performing board (i.e., understanding the role of the board and its agenda) and the “how” (i.e., the… Read more

The Fundamentals of Corporate Governance

The Fundamentals of Corporate Governance

A discussion exploring the changing landscape of corporate governance for board directors of India’s top public sector banks. Read more

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

Italian NEDs Need to Focus Boards on Medium-Term Strategies, Despite COVID-19

Italian NEDs Need to Focus Boards on Medium-Term Strategies, Despite COVID-19

Highlights from a digital gathering for Non-Executive Directors in Italy, hosted by Egon Zehnder. Read more

Accelerating Focus on Culture and Talent in the Boardroom - Part Two

Accelerating Focus on Culture and Talent in the Boardroom - Part Two

Egon Zehnder's Greig Schneider and Lisa Blais share their unique perspective on culture and talent and how they are impacting the boardroom in an… Read more

Accelerating Focus on Culture and Talent in the Boardroom - Part One

Accelerating Focus on Culture and Talent in the Boardroom - Part One

Egon Zehnder's Greig Schneider and Lisa Blais share their unique perspective on culture and talent and how they are impacting the boardroom in an… Read more

Board Leadership in Times of Crisis

Board Leadership in Times of Crisis

A digital gathering with Board Members from major companies in Mexico. 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