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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

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

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

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

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

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

Marwa Zohdy

Marwa Zohdy

Chicago

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

Patrick Lennon

Patrick Lennon

Atlanta

Based in Atlanta, Patrick Lennon is a leader in Egon Zehnder’s Supply Chain & Operations practice. 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

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

Glenn Zweig

Glenn Zweig

Atlanta

Based in Atlanta, Glenn Zweig is a leader in the Firm’s CFO and Tech practices with a specialization in Software, Digital, and Tech-Enabled Services. Read more

Eric Anderson

Eric Anderson

Atlanta, New York

Eric Anderson, based in Atlanta, serves as the Global Co-Head of the Technology Practice and is a trusted advisor to clients on board governance… 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 45: 'We Have Become More Human:' Manufacturing CEOs Speak Out on The Evolving Role

CEO Insights — Volume 45: 'We Have Become More Human:' Manufacturing CEOs Speak Out on The Evolving Role

To manage and lead through vast complexity, CEOs have discovered that the antidote is largely relational, and they are actively working to expand their… Read more

What We Know Now: CPG CEOs Share at the Consumer Goods Forum

What We Know Now: CPG CEOs Share at the Consumer Goods Forum

Egon Zehnder was proud to participate in this month’s 2024 Consumer Goods Forum in Chicago. Sarah Van Dyck, co-leader of Egon Zehnder’s Global Consumer… Read more

Exploring How CEOs and Boards Can Escape the Growth Curse

Exploring How CEOs and Boards Can Escape the Growth Curse

Chasing growth can derail even the most well-meaning CEOs—and their companies along with them. We spoke with Yves Doz and Keeley Wilson, authors of… Read more

More women make it on to US company boards but fewer reach the C-suite

More women make it on to US company boards but fewer reach the C-suite

Egon Zehnder's Chuck Gray highlights that diversity remains a priority for boards and how a drop in CEO diversity impacts board diversity. (Note that… Read more

Why CEOs and Boards Should Prioritize Investing in their Senior Sales Leaders

Why CEOs and Boards Should Prioritize Investing in their Senior Sales Leaders

Chief Sales Officers have been driving incremental growth. Now it’s time for CEOs and Boards to apply that same level of rigor to the… Read more

CEO Insights — Volume 44: Leaping Over Tall Expectations Together: The Super CEO Meets the Super CFO

CEO Insights — Volume 44: Leaping Over Tall Expectations Together: The Super CEO Meets the Super CFO

It turns out it is not just CEOs who are the superheroes of business today. Our new survey, “The Super CFO,” explains how CFOs… 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

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