Pearson Partners International Founder, Chairman and CEO Robert Pearson Wins Top Executive Search Industry Award
Association of Executive Search Consultants’ Lifetime Achievement Award Recognizes Outstanding Contribution to the Profession
(DALLAS, TX – March 6, 2013) – The Association of Executive Search & Leadership Consultants (AESC) has selected Robert “Bob” L. Pearson, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Pearson Partners International, as the 2013 recipient of its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, widely considered to be the highest award in the executive search profession. The AESC, the worldwide professional association for the retained executive search and leadership consulting industry, presented the award to Pearson at its annual Americas Conference in New York City on March 6, 2013.
“I am humbled and privileged to be chosen for this recognition from an association that I’ve been proud to be part of for nearly 30 years and that continues to promote and sustain the profession that I love,” said Pearson. “I can think of no greater honor than to receive what amounts to a lifetime achievement award for work that I have enjoyed for three decades and that has given me so many opportunities to connect employers with great executives to lead their businesses.”
“The AESC Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the executive search consulting profession and has a long, prestigious tradition dating back to 1982 for the annual award,” said Peter M. Felix, president of the AESC. “The association has been impressed with Bob Pearson’s leadership in creating and sustaining a significant global organization. He demonstrated great creativity and business acumen when, as CEO of Lamalie Associates, he launched the first IPO for a firm in the recruiting industry, and he has instilled a team-oriented, open culture at Pearson Partners International, to the benefit of each and every client. Over an impressive career, Mr. Pearson has consistently been a model of integrity for our profession.”
In nearly 30 years in retained executive search, Pearson has contributed significantly to the growth and evolution of the industry. At Pearson Partners International, the firm he founded in 2002, he oversees the strategic direction of the firm and lends his considerable expertise to expanding the strength of the firm’s chief executive officer and board of directors search practices.
Prior to founding Pearson Partners, Pearson was the chairman and chief executive officer of LAI Worldwide, which at the time was the third-largest global executive search firm. He was instrumental in taking LAI Worldwide public—the first IPO for a firm in the recruiting industry.
Pearson launched his executive search career at Russell Reynolds Associates as executive director, then became the Southwest managing partner of Lamalie Associates (later known as LAI Worldwide) before being elected Chairman and CEO. Following several sizable acquisitions and a large secondary public offering, the company was sold to TMP Worldwide (later known as Monster Worldwide.)
Pearson earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from Michigan State University. He attended graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a NASA fellowship, earning a Master of Science in Industrial Management degree.
About Pearson Partners International
Based in Dallas, Pearson Partners International is a retained executive search firm that helps companies in all industries recruit and retain top talent, from senior management to the board room. In addition, Pearson Partners offers executive assessment, leadership development and coaching services. The firm serves clients in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. For more information, visitwww.PearsonPartnersIntl.com or call 214-292-4130.
Pearson Partners was founded by industry veteran Robert Pearson, previous chairman and CEO of LAI Worldwide, at the time one of the largest and fastest-growing publicly traded executive search firms in the world. At Pearson Partners, he has assembled a winning team of professionals who love what they do and bring more than 130 combined years of diverse, results-oriented retained search experience.
