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What We Do

CEO Search & Succession

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.
 

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


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.


CEO Search & Succession 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

Dick Patton

Dick Patton

Boston

US Lead

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

Alyse Forcellina

Alyse Forcellina

New York

Alyse Forcellina is an experienced partner who has led Egon Zehnder’s US Health and Leadership Advisory Practices, and is also active in the firm’s… Read more

Peter Gallagher

Peter Gallagher

New York

Peter Gallagher, based in New York, is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Health Practice. Drawing on diverse biopharma industry experience in… 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

Justin Zale

Justin Zale

New York

Based in New York, Justin Zale co-leads Egon Zehnder’s real estate practice globally, and previously led the effort in North America. 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

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

Rebecca Spaulding

Rebecca Spaulding

New York

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

Anna Auerbach

Anna Auerbach

New York

Anna Auerbach, based in New York, is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Technology and Digital practice. Anna is an experienced advisor, founder, and… Read more

Jennifer Power

Jennifer Power

New York

Based in New York, Jennifer Power is active in Egon Zehnder’s Healthcare Practice. 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

Zachary Pomerantz

Zachary Pomerantz

New York

Zach Pomerantz is in Egon Zehnder’s Global Services Practice, focusing on Real Estate, Travel & Hospitality, & Sustainability. 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


Thought Leadership | CEO Search & Succession

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

2022/23 Global Board Diversity Tracker: Who's Really on Board?

2022/23 Global Board Diversity Tracker: Who's Really on Board?

For over 18 years, Egon Zehnder has been tracking boardroom diversity around the world. The 2022–2023 Global Board Diversity Tracker captures the progress that… Read more

Hiring Right: A Guide for Founders and High-Growth Companies

Hiring Right: A Guide for Founders and High-Growth Companies

In early-stage and higher-growth companies, nothing is more important than making the right bets on people. Read more

The Founder Succession Wave Is Coming

The Founder Succession Wave Is Coming

Who follows the founder? The timing and choosing of this leader can be a tricky and often a highly emotional process. And it’s one… Read more

From Dream to Reality

From Dream to Reality

Who are Founders as leaders? We've recently engaged dozens of early-stage founders to exchange on this question and share our key insights. Read more

Why Decentralized Companies Outperform Their Industrial Peers

Why Decentralized Companies Outperform Their Industrial Peers

CEOs and presidents share why a common language, ownership mindset, and culture of discontent contribute to this organizational structure’s success. Read more

CEO succession analysis of European Chemical and Process Industries

CEO succession analysis of European Chemical and Process Industries

Egon Zehnder Chemical and Process Industries team answers frequently asked CEO succession questions on internal versus external hiring, sitting versus step-up CEOs, tenure and… Read more

Redefining Work in Latin America

Redefining Work in Latin America

The future of work is flexible, but Latin American leaders have yet to strike the right balance between remote and in-person work benefits. 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

Trusting the Process: The Rewards of Early Succession Planning

Trusting the Process: The Rewards of Early Succession Planning

Though hard to execute, succession is best conceived as an ongoing, future-oriented progression that renews itself the day a new successor takes over. Read more

CEOs at the Vanguard of Sustainable Growth

CEOs at the Vanguard of Sustainable Growth

A sizeable minority of CEOs—one in four of those who participated in our survey—say that sustainability is already a major driver of their decisions.… Read more

Sole24 Ore – It’s Time to Rethink Leadership and CEOs Know It

Sole24 Ore – It’s Time to Rethink Leadership and CEOs Know It

The upheaval of COVID-19 has caused many CEOs to reach a new level of self-awareness. As a result, most CEOs believe it is now… Read more

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