AESC Welcomes 15 to its Regional Councils

The global association representing the firms that place and advise the world's leaders selects new council members and officers

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) represents the $20+ billion global executive search and leadership consulting industry, with member firms spanning 1,200+ offices in 70+ countries. Today, the association announces 2025 officers and representatives to the AESC Regional Councils: Council of the Americas; Council of Asia Pacific; and Council of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Each council consists of elected officers and representatives from AESC member executive search and leadership advisory firms who were nominated and voted in for their leadership and professionalism.

2025 Council Officers
Americas
Matrice Ellis-Kirk, Dallas, TX-based Chief Executive Officer, Ellis Kirk Group, will continue her position as Council Chair. Pilar Brogeras, Mexico City, Mexico-based Managing Director, Global Functional Leader Startups and Scale-ups, Stanton Chase, will maintain her role as Vice Chair.

APAC
K Sudarshan, Mumbai-based Managing Director, EMA Partners India, and APAC Chair, EMA Partners International, has been appointed Council Chair. Simon Wan, Shanghai-based Chief Executive of Cornerstone International Group worldwide and President of Cornerstone in China, will now serve as Council Vice Chair.

EMEA
Jacques Bouwens, Amsterdam-based Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates, was named Council Chair. Kristen Smit, Paris-based Managing Partner, Boyden, retains her position as Vice Chair.

New 2025 Council Members
Americas

• Tony Bolliger, San Clemente, CA-based President at CareerSMITH, has more than two decades of experience developing strategic recruitment plans and recruiting across a spectrum of leadership positions in the Engineering, Construction, Government, and Energy industries.
• Ricardo du Pain is a São Paulo-based Managing Partner at People Assets |TRANSEARCH with 20 years of industry experience serving sectors such as Digital, Consumer & Retail, Industrial, and Life Sciences.
• James Zaniello, Washington, D.C.-based President at Vetted Solutions / Panorama, has spent more than 15 years specializing in executive search and Board of Directors recruitment for associations and nonprofits.

APAC

• David Baber is a Melbourne-based Partner at Future Leadership, who leads the firm's Public Sector practice and places candidates nationally at the highest levels of federal, state, and local government. He also supports boards on non-executive director appointments.
• Kiran Koppula is a Mumbai-based Managing Partner at Signium with nearly a decade of experience in the executive search industry placing leaders across sectors and geographies.
• Sripad K N Rao is a Bengaluru-based Managing Partner at Stanton Chase with more than 20 years of experience serving family-owned, promoter-driven, private, and public companies.
• Toral Patel co-founded and co-leads Accord India | AltoPartners network as Managing Partner. Mumbai based, she has over three decades of experience partnering on CEO/ CXO searches in the Consumer, Retail, Real Estate, and Private Equity sectors.
• Simon Wan is the Chief Executive of Cornerstone International Group worldwide and President of Cornerstone in China. Based in Shanghai, he has more than 20 years of experience supporting companies with their executive needs.
• Jonas Korbstein is a Singapore-based Managing Director, APAC, at Eric Salmon and Partners with expertise in the Industrial & Consumer sectors, supporting SMEs, Mittelstand companies, and MNCs.

EMEA

• Ruth Curran, Dublin-based Consultant at Spencer Stuart, leads the firm's global functional practices and the Financial Officer Practice across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She also runs the firm's Dublin office and is a member of the CEO, CFO, Boards, Consumer, Financial Services, and Private Equity practices.
• Chris Hardy is a London and Johannesburg-based partner at EMA Partners. He serves on the global executive committee and supports clients in the energy, manufacturing, and financial services sectors.
• Jenni Hibbert is a London-based Partner at Heidrick & Struggles with twenty years' experience in executive search. She serves the firm as both the Global Managing Partner, Go-To-Market and Regional Leader of Europe & Africa.
• Dimitris Kleftakis, Athens-based President of AIMS International, holds roles including Managing Director, Greece, and Practice Member, Financial and Professional Services and Industrial.
• Richard Moore, London-based CEO and Partner at MU (Mercuri Urval), has more than 23 years of experience specializing in board and CEO effectiveness, leader selection, leadership coaching, and executive search.
• Helen Tudor is a London-based Managing Director at Sheffield Haworth who also serves as the Global Lead for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, having achieved AESC's IDEA Award in 2023 for her efforts.

View the full council slate for each region.

About AESC

Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standards for the executive search and leadership consulting profession. AESC Members represent 16,000+ trusted professionals in 1,200+ offices, spanning 70+ countries. AESC Members are recognized experts providing consulting services in the areas of leaders, teams and culture to the world's leading organizations. They leverage their access and expertise to place more than 100,000 executives each year in board of directors and C-level positions across industry sectors. Dedicated to strengthening leadership together, AESC and its members share a deep commitment to the highest quality standards in executive search and leadership consulting—for the benefit of clients and the profession. We Shape. Connect. Educate. Innovate. Learn more about us at aesc.org. For AESC's career services, visit bluesteps.com.

SOURCE Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants