Jed Hughes Joins Korn/Ferry as Global Head of Sports Practice

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- What do Mark Murphy, CEO of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and Coach Brady Hoke of the Sugar Bowl champion Michigan Wolverines have in common? 

Both were placed in their organizations by Jed Hughes, the world of sport's pioneer of senior-level search and organizational assessment.  Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY), a premier global provider of talent management solutions, today announced that Mr. Hughes has joined the Firm as Global Sector Head of the Sports Practice.  He will be based in the Firm's New York office. 

The evolving landscape and economic pressures within the world of intercollegiate and professional sports have elevated the importance of hiring the right leaders to make the right decisions impacting their organizations.  Millions of dollars are at stake and the consequences have never been more critical – from cash-strapped intercollegiate environments to professional sports organizations, each trying to increase profitability and stimulate their fan base.

"Professional sports is a complex business that co-mingles entertainment, retail, consumer goods, technology and new media.  Choosing the right leadership is critical to success," said Bob Damon, Korn/Ferry International president of North America.  "Jed has a long and distinguished career as the leading consultant in professional sports and intercollegiate athletics.  His relationships are extensive and his knowledge of the critical trends and leadership issues impacting the world of sports is unparalleled."

Mr. Hughes joins Korn/Ferry from Spencer Stuart, where he led the Sports Practice for over 12 years and served as a core member of the Board and CEO Practice.  Among his high profile placements are Mark Murphy, CEO of the Green Bay Packers; Larry Scott, Commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference; and Brady Hoke, who last week restored football glory to the University of Michigan by guiding the Wolverines to a Sugar Bowl victory.  Other premier sports organizations that Jed has conducted searches for include the United States Olympic Committee, Ladies Professional Golf Association, PGA of America, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Arsenal Football Club, Liverpool Football Club, Ohio State University, ATP Tour, and Women's Tennis Association. 

Mr. Hughes also has a proven track record of success outside the sports world, having recruited board directors and CEOs within private equity, consumer and industrial organizations, including, Solectron, Stride Rite, Westpoint Stevens, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, U.S. Steel Corporation, and PNC Bank.

Earlier in his career Mr. Hughes coached for two decades in professional and intercollegiate football where he served under five Hall of Fame coaches - Bo Schembechler (University of Michigan), Chuck Noll (Pittsburgh Steelers), Bud Grant (Minnesota Vikings), John Ralston (Stanford University) and Terry Donahue (UCLA). 

After his coaching career, Mr. Hughes had a stint with Walter V. Clark, a behavioral assessment company where he led the development of psychological testing and assessments for organizations that included Super Bowl champions San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.  He also coached some of the top business executives at General Electric, R.R. Donnelly, H.J. Heinz, and PNC Bank in leadership.

Mr. Hughes holds an M.A. from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan with a focus on organizational behavior.  He is the author of Succession Planning – The Retail Black Hole, An Old Game with New Challenges - Leadership at a Crossroads in Intercollegiate Sports, and Survival in the Sports Entertainment Business: The New Darwinism?

About Korn/Ferry International
Korn/Ferry International, with a presence throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to attract, engage, develop, and retain their talent. Visit www.kornferry.com for more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, and www.kornferryinstitute.com for thought leadership, intellectual property and research.

SOURCE Korn/Ferry International