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News, articles and speeches

Pearson Partners Named one of America’s Best Executive Search Firms by Forbes

We are thrilled to announce that Forbes has once again named Pearson Partners International one of America’s Best Executive Search Firms. This marks the fourth year of this distinction for our commitment to excellence in executive search and leadership consulting.

As the recruitment landscape stabilizes from the tumultuous period known as the “Great Resignation,” more executives are expressing satisfaction with their current employment. A recent survey by ZipRecruiter reveals that over 86% of new hires are content in their roles, a stark contrast to the job-hopping trends observed in previous years. This increased job satisfaction poses renewed challenges for recruiting, as fewer leaders are open to new opportunities. Combined with the looming Baby Boomer retirement wave, an ever-greater need for effective succession planning, the integration of AI into human resources functions, and a continuing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, our role as leadership consultants has never been more vital. We are dedicated to helping our clients navigate these complexities to ensure successful executive recruitment, effective retention and robust succession planning.

Recognizing this shift in the recruitment landscape, Forbes has partnered again with market research firm Statista to rank America’s Best Executive Search Firms, highlighting leaders in executive search like Pearson Partners International. We have earned this prestigious accolade four times in the eight years Forbes has chosen the honorees, including 2017 (the list’s inaugural year), 2018, 2023 and 2024.

“It is a privilege to be recognized as one of America’s Best Executive Search Firms by Forbes for the fourth time. This honor reaffirms our unwavering commitment to excellence and the trust our clients place in us.”

– Keith Pearson, Chairman & CEO, Pearson Partners International

Keith Pearson, Chairman & CEO of Pearson Partners International, said, “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our executive search peers joining us in earning this distinguished honor, particularly our colleagues at our fellow IIC Partners firms, Dinte Executive Search in Washington D.C. and Furst Group in Chicago. As we navigate a generational shift in leadership and prepare for a wave of executive retirement, Pearson Partners remains dedicated to connecting leading companies with talented professionals, ensuring seamless transitions and sustained organizational success.”

“Collaborating with our fellow IIC Partners firm leaders also earning this distinction is an honor that enhances our collective success.”

– Renee Arrington, President & COO, Pearson Partners International

Renee Arrington, Pearson Partners International President & COO, added, “We are thrilled to share this accolade with such distinguished executive search firms, who represent our shared commitment to quality and integrity. Collaborating with our fellow IIC Partners firm leaders Samuel Dinte, Bob Clarke, Sherrie Barch, and our team at Pearson Partners International is an honor that enhances our collective success.”

Partnering with Forbes, Statista surveyed more than 9,300 recruiters, HR leaders, hiring managers and candidates to solicit their recommendations and assessments of executive search firms with whom they had recently worked. The firms earning the highest rankings made it onto the list of the top 150 companies specializing in filling positions with base salaries over $100,000. As with all Forbes lists, there is no fee to participate or be selected. Learn more about the methodology.

View the 2024 Forbes list of America’s Best Executive Search Firms.

May 8, 2024
Forbes Names Pearson Partners International One of America’s Best Executive Search Firms

Global executive search firm earns prestigious accolade
for the third time

Pearson Partners International is thrilled to announce its recognition for the third time by Forbes as one of America’s Best Executive Search Firms.

In today’s complex economic and geopolitical climate, C-suite executives face myriad challenges in the workplace, including employee burnout and stress, increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the drive for sustainable business practices and increased workplace transparency. A recent Deloitte global survey revealed that nearly 70 percent of C-suite executives are considering leaving their positions in pursuit of those that better support their well-being.

Amidst this potentially significant job turnover, Forbes has collaborated with market research company Statista to identify America’s Best Executive Search Firms.

Pearson Partners International has earned this prestigious accolade three times in the seven years Forbes has compiled the list, including the inaugural year in 2017, again in 2018 and for a third time in 2023.

We are honored to be recognized again by Forbes as one of America’s Best Executive Search Firms. This acknowledgment is a testament to our commitment to exceptional service and our clients’ trust. – Keith Pearson, Chairman & CEO

Keith Pearson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Pearson Partners International, said, “We congratulate our search industry colleagues—especially our fellow IIC Partners firms sharing this prestigious recognition: Dinte Executive Search in Washington, Ellig Group in New York; Furst Group in Chicago and Salveson Stetson Group in Philadelphia.”

Renee Arrington, Pearson Partners International President & COO, added, “We are delighted to be in such esteemed company. Our fellow honorees embody our core values of quality and integrity. It is especially a privilege to work with and collaborate alongside our U.S.-based IIC Partners firm leaders joining us on this year’s Forbes list—Samuel Dinte, Janice Ellig, Bob Clarke, Sherrie Barch, Sally Stetson, Keith Pearson and our team at Pearson Partners International.”

Partnering with Forbes, Statista surveyed 5,200 external recruiters, HR leaders, internal hiring managers and candidates to solicit their recommendations and assessments of executive recruiting firms with whom they had recently worked. The firms that received the highest scores made it onto the list of the top 150 companies specializing in filling positions with salaries of at least $100,000.

View the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Best Executive Search Firms.

May 11, 2023
D CEO Names Renee Arrington to Dallas 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders

Renee Arrington, President & Chief Operating Officer of Dallas-based global executive search firm Pearson Partners International, has been honored as one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s most powerful business leaders in the 2021 D CEO Dallas 500.

According to D CEO Editor Christine Perez, the business leaders featured in the 2021 edition represent the most powerful executives in more than 50 business categories and play an integral role in driving the vibrant North Texas economy, making it such a vibrant place to work and live.

“I am honored to have earned a place among such an inspirational group of Dallas-Fort Worth business leaders,” said Ms. Arrington. “In my executive search career at Pearson Partners International, I have been fortunate to meet many of these women and men, and I am proud to be in such good company. Alongside my business partner Keith Pearson, CEO of Pearson Partners, I hope to continue to help our firm make a meaningful impact on the North Texas community and beyond.”

Keith Pearson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Pearson Partners, said, “I am very proud of Renee’s recognition in the Dallas 500. I have known Renee for nearly 20 years and can attest to her substantial impact on our growth at Pearson Partners. She led the charge on our commitment to diversity and inclusion as an integral part of our mission, and her personal involvement in her clients’ success and her contributions to the Dallas-Fort Worth community have shaped not only her own success but that of our firm.”

Renee excels in recruiting board and executive talent for Fortune 500 companies, private-equity-backed businesses and not-for-profit organizations. She serves on Pearson Partners’ board of directors and provides leadership to its technology practice, working across industries including technology, retail, financial services, business services, manufacturing, distribution and R&D. She is a frequent speaker at national events including HMG Strategy’s national CIO/CISO Summits and Pearson Partners’ quarterly Spotlight Series^TM events. Renee serves on numerous North Texas boards and committees, including as vice chair, Americas for Pearson Partners’ global search organization, IIC Partners, and gives her time generously to charitable and civic organizations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including Rethink Results, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) North Texas Chapter, Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and Dallas Executive Women’s Roundtable (EWR). She has earned many industry and professional awards in recognition of her contributions to her profession and the community. Renee lives in Fort Worth with her husband, Michael, with whom she enjoys cooking, traveling and entertaining with friends. Learn more about Renee in her bio.

Which piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career?

Early in my career when I was struggling to establish my identity among my older colleagues, a mentor (who happened to be a woman) assured me that I would find my own clients in due time because people will work with people they like. Further, it would not be necessary to conform to a stereotype to be successful.

Is there a nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you? Please tell us about it.

My time and treasure are devoted to The Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth, which is part of Young Women’s Preparatory Network. This public, all-girls school serves grades 6–12 and provides a STEM-focused curriculum. In my search career, my clients always seek women and women of color for leadership positions. To deepen this talent pipeline, we must start in middle school, and that’s what YWLA provides.

What is one thing you would change about Dallas to make it even better?

In a typical year, I would say improve the traffic problem, particularly on 75. However, given the current circumstances, traffic has been a breeze. On a more serious note, Dallas needs to find a solution for the homeless population. So many major cities authored 10-year plans to end homelessness in the early 2000s, and it would be great to better understand the progress against those ambitious goals and what needs to be done on an ongoing basis.

About Pearson Partners

Pearson Partners International was founded in 2002 by executive search industry veterans Robert Pearson and Keith Pearson and is ranked among the top 40 retained executive search firms in North America. Pearson Partners serves clients on a global basis across all industries and disciplines from the senior management level to the boardroom. The firm is a member of IIC Partners (one of the world’s top 10 global executive search organizations) and is active on its board of directors. With over 450 independent, international consultants in 44 countries, Pearson Partners’ global reach gives clients access to the highest-caliber executive talent around the world. As a member of the Association of Executive Search & Leadership Consultants (AESC), with active participation on its leadership councils, Pearson Partners is engaged in shaping the executive search and leadership consulting industry and its trends.

January 26, 2021

Searchlight Newsletter – Q1 2020

Q1 2020

A Message from Keith Pearson, CEO & Vice Chairman

Stronger Together

As we have recently faced unprecedented times together, I am reminded of the adage that necessity is the mother of invention. I have been continually impressed by the resilience, innovation, courage and strength exhibited by our community, clients, friends and families. The world’s innovation engine has certainly cranked up, and at record pace. The healthcare industry and its people on the front lines are sacrificing and working around the clock to develop treatments, vaccines, testing methods and genealogical breakthroughs. Many businesses have pivoted to reimagine their product and service delivery models and others have rapidly spun up new products and services to meet the needs of their communities and ensure their business continuity. As we all begin to return to normalcy, I believe that we will come out of this stronger—together—and see dramatic growth in global demand that has been pent up and eager to be quenched.

While we are not out of the woods just yet, I have reflected on what we have learned so far. The most important thing seems to be that, with very few exceptions, difficult times bring out the best in people. Around the world, we have seen charity, collaboration, communication and a massive coming together of people reaching out to help their fellow citizens—from all walks of life.

Here at Pearson Partners, the value that this diversity of culture and thought brings to our communities and organizations was the topic of our first-quarter 2020 Spotlight Series^TM breakfast, where our panel of business leaders discussed the importance of diversity and inclusion and why getting it right not only increases employee engagement and performance, but indeed company success. Read a summary of our discussion in this issue.

Like many of you, our team worked from home for the last several weeks, and although we were well prepared to work from anywhere at full efficiency, we are all excited to be returning to the office and enjoying the in-person collaboration that our firm was founded on almost twenty years ago. Our clients have continued to execute their talent acquisition and development plans, even if in-person onboarding has been a bit delayed. Most have continued to interview and assess potential new leaders for their organizations, aided by video technology that couldn’t have availed itself at a better time. We expect that when we climb out of this, the new normal will reflect the demand that has been building and we will see a resurgence of hiring, productivity and innovation.

Meanwhile, I wish you and yours safety, health and prosperity.

In This Issue

Quarterly Spotlight Series^SM Breakfast:
Diversity & Inclusion: ROI, Business and Cultural Impacts

Diversity and inclusion strategies can deliver return on investment beyond just numbers, increasing both productivity and profitability. Yet, many organizations approach diversity initiatives by simply “checking off the boxes” for recruitment and reputation management. To explore best practices for inclusion and diversity strategy, we invited a panel of diversity and inclusion leaders to share their thoughts and experiences at our March 3, 2020, Spotlight Series^SM breakfast.

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White Paper:
How to Attract and Retain Top Talent at Not-For-Profit Organizations

Talent strategy at not-for-profit organizations has long been a challenging prospect. It takes an accomplished leadership team to craft a brand, culture and compensation package to attract and retain talented leaders amidst tight budgets, public scrutiny and fierce competition for talent. How do they do it? Together with our global partners at IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide, we asked senior executives at leading not-for-profit organizations to share their challenges and successes. Learn more and read the white paper in this issue.

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Tips from the Leadership Coach:
Keep Your Job Lead Funnel Full

One of the mistakes we frequently see executives in transition make is to work on one promising job lead at a time. This not only extends the length of the job search, but often leads to disappointing setbacks when the opportunity does not pan out. Rather, you should continually build your job lead pipeline by sourcing your contacts and new opportunities—right up until your first day on the new job. Read 10 tips to help you to keep your job lead funnel full and land the right job.

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Pearson Partners Profile:
Cortland Kelly Grynwald, Vice President, Legal, Risk & Compliance Practice

Our newest vice president, Cortland Kelly Grynwald, excels in legal, risk and compliance search for public, private and municipal enterprises. As an attorney herself, she understands the nuances of how legal and quasi-legal leadership succeeds in corporate environments. She leverages this insight in serving her clients and has been doing so nationally for over a decade, building a broad national network of contacts. Learn more about how Cortland lends her expertise to our team by reading her Profile Q&A in this issue.

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Featured Search

We are partnering with the market leader in the agricultural aviation industry on a national search for a Chief Financial Officer. Our client, Air Tractor, produces the industry’s most capable line of aircraft that are used in over 40 countries around the world for agricultural aerial applications, firefighting, narcotic crop eradication, fuel hauling, fighting locust plagues and cleaning oil spills in coastal waters, among other applications.

With the upcoming retirement of the incumbent Chief Financial Officer in the fall of 2020, our successful candidate will have big shoes to fill. He or she will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, responsible for maintaining the financial integrity of Air Tractor as well as planning, implementing, managing and controlling all financial-related matters for the corporation. This is a high-impact position in a well-run, ESOP-owned company.

Learn more or provide a confidential referral.

View more featured searches.

Recent Placements

President & Chief Executive Officer, Electrical Wholesale Company
Chief Financial Officer, Leading Financial Institution
Controller, HVAC and Plumbing Services Company
SVP, Bank Operations, Financial Services Advisory Firm

VP, Human Capital, Regional Transportation Company
Industrial Division Manager, Commercial Construction Company
Managing Principal, Research & Development, Leading Securities Firm
Senior Manager, Tax, Accounting and Tax Preparation Firm

Other news

Pearson Partners is teaming with professors from TCU Neeley School of Business and Texas A&M University Mays Business School on a groundbreaking survey of board directors. The resulting study will reveal trends in board leadership during times of crisis. Watch for the study results in our newsletter later this year.

Pearson Partners is conducting a study of C-Suite leaders on executive hiring trends and industry outlook during and beyond the COVID-19 global crisis. If you are a C-Suite or board member and would like to participate in this study and see a preview of the results when complete, please email Lori Latimer. Watch for our study results in our next newsletter.

Stephen Konstans was a panelist at a virtual discussion in May for the Wharton Club of Dallas/Fort Worth, discussing executive career-related issues in the local and national job markets, retained executive search and the North Texas business climate.

Renee Arrington continued her national speaking circuit, this time virtually, at the HMG Live! 2020 Houston CIO Virtual Summit on May 1. HMG Live!, part of HMG Strategy’s national CIO Summits, is a series of virtual interviews and virtual summits focused on key aspects of courageous leadership during times of global crisis. Renee participated in a virtual panel centered in Houston, discussing Leading Courageously Through a Crisis. The event drew a record-breaking 367 participants.

Cortland Kelly Grynwald hosted and moderated virtual monthly planning meetings in April and May for Attorneys Serving the Community (ASC), a group of 400 Dallas-area women lawyers and students that supports local non-profit organizations whose programs benefit women, children and families. Cortland has served in many leadership positions and committees for ASC and has been co-chair of its Meeting Arrangements Committee since 2018.

Renee Arrington was a panelist in May at a SIM Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter virtual meeting discussing Job Searching During Quarantine and Beyond.

Stephen Konstans spoke at an April meeting of the Accomplished Executives Forum, a group of senior leaders, entrepreneurs and executives in transition who are interested in meeting and networking with their peers. Stephen discussed Working with Recruiters in Today’s Turbulent Times.

In March, Renee Arrington was a presenting speaker for the Dallas Software Lunch Bunch Meetup group (of which she is a member), an informal group of current and former C-level software executives in Dallas. The panel discussed Joining Corporate Boards of Directors.

Renee Arrington was a panelist in a March webinar hosted by AESC’s BlueSteps, discussing Could You Earn More? The How-To’s of Salary Negotiation. BlueSteps is a career service of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (of which Pearson Partners is a member), offering career resources and strategies for senior-level executives.

In February, Renee Arrington led a panel discussion at the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Dallas chapter of the Private Directors Association. The organization serves the needs of private companies interested in forming boards of directors and individuals interested in joining private company boards.

In January, Stephen Konstans joined the Advisory Board Council of Dallas Summer Musicals.

Our global partnership, IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide, one of the world’s top 10 global executive search organizations, announced the acceptance of Visindi into membership. Visindi’s Oslo office is the 24th IIC Partners office in Europe and the 48th worldwide.

We appreciate your feedback. Please let us know how we may improve the quarterly Searchlight newsletter or our service.

May 4, 2020

Business Continuity During Covid-19 Coronavirus

A Letter from Our CEO
March 18, 2020

Dear colleague:

I want to thank you for your continued loyalty to Pearson Partners International and for entrusting us with recruiting, developing and retaining your most valued asset: your people. As we all come to grips with new ways of working during the current outbreak of Covid-19, I assure you that our team remains hard at work for you and our business continuity plan is strong.

Availability of Our Consultants
Here at Pearson Partners, we continue to work in our offices, with our people given the freedom and tools to work from home. We have long been accustomed to working remotely with agility, having worked for almost two decades on assignments across the globe. Our team and I remain available to you at a moment’s notice by phone call and/or video.

Resources and Data Integrity
We are all adjusting to a new normal for the immediate future and technology will play an even bigger role in our everyday working lives. Our technical platform is designed with these events in mind and will not be impacted in any way if we are required to work remotely at any point. Our secure, cloud-based IT infrastructure serves our team at any location, 24/7, to be productive wherever they are in the world—whether it’s a client’s office in Dallas, a hotel in Dubai or a desk in their home office.

Helping You to Stay Productive
Our specialty is empowering people to do their best work—wherever, whenever and however it needs to be done. We have always helped our clients in facilitating telephone and video meetings with candidates and are doing so even more today. With many of your teams likely working from home, we are here to help you in any way we can to make sure your ongoing recruitment and development efforts are uninterrupted.

Staying Strong Together
We believe in the strength and resilience of our society and our business community and remain confident that this situation will rebound. As we face the uncertain times ahead, I remind you that we have weathered tougher storms than this together, including 9/11 and the Great Recession of 2008, and have come out even stronger. We know you will need talented business leaders to steer your organization through the times ahead and we stand ready to serve you. In the meantime, I welcome your ideas on your business continuity plan. What strategies are you implementing?

Thank you for being an integral part of the Pearson Partners family. I hope you’ll join me in helping those in our communities that are vulnerable and less fortunate. As always, we wish you and your loved ones safety, wellness and continued health.

With gratitude,

Keith

Keith D. Pearson
Chairman and CEO
Pearson Partners International
www.pearsonpartnersintl.com
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March 26, 2020
Pearson Partners International Names Renee Baker Arrington President and Chief Operating Officer

(DALLAS, TX – June 4, 2019) – Pearson Partners International, a global retained executive search firm, has promoted Renee Baker Arrington to the role of president and the newly created role of chief operating officer, effective June 1, 2019. She has been with the firm for 13 years, is a member of the board of directors and most recently served as senior vice president. Founding Partner Keith Pearson will retain his role as CEO.

“Having worked alongside Renee for more than a decade, I can think of no one more qualified to join me in leading Pearson Partners. She brings an innate, strong understanding of the executive search process and of our firm’s philosophy and culture,” notes Pearson. “Renee is a natural leader and problem solver with an ability to quickly identify patterns and strategic connections that benefit our clients in search as well as in larger leadership development realms.”

Arrington will continue to source high-quality board, executive and technology leadership talent for clients ranging from Fortune 1000 corporations and private equity portfolio companies to not-for-profit and government organizations. With more than 20 years of experience in retained executive search, she leads the firm’s CIO and Technology Leadership Practice Group for clients in technology, retail, financial services, business services, distribution and R&D as well as oversees the Fort Worth office location.

“The talent acquisition market continues to evolve, aided by technology like artificial intelligence and machine learning, and as a matter of interest, we are tracking this,” Arrington adds. “We firmly believe that at the executive levels where we work, the personal touch endures. Our high-touch, high-service approach is why we’ve led the industry in broadening our services beyond search, to include leadership assessment, coaching, onboarding and succession planning. I’m eager to support our clients and team and to spur our continued growth.”

Arrington serves on the board of directors of IIC Partners, one of the world’s top 10 executive search organizations, with 43 offices in 29 countries, and as IIC Partners’ board liaison for practice groups. (Pearson Partners is a member firm of IIC Partners.) Additionally, she serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) North Texas Chapter and is a former board member of the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of the Society for Information Management (SIM).

Active in the local community, Arrington serves as board chair for The Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth and is passionate about helping young girls excel in the STEM world. A graduate of Trinity University, she was honored with the prestigious 2018 Commitment to the Community Award by the Association of Executive Search & Leadership Consultants and was named as a 2019 Technology Executive to Watch by HMG Strategy.

About Pearson Partners International

Pearson Partners International, a global retained executive search firm, helps organizations across industries recruit and retain top talent, from C-level and senior management to the board room. Founded in 2002, the firm complements its executive search services with executive assessment, leadership development, coaching and succession planning solutions. A member firm of IIC Partners, Pearson Partners serves clients across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Headquartered in Dallas, the firm has additional U.S. offices in Fort Worth, Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Honolulu. For information, visit www.pearsonpartnersintl.com or call 214-292-4130.

June 4, 2019
New Practice Leaders Appointed in Pearson Partners Global Search Partnership

New York, NY – April 2, 2019 – IIC Partners (www.iicpartners.com), one of the world’s top ten global executive search organizations, announced today the appointment of new leaders to its Practice Groups.

Stephan Breitfeld, Partner of ingeniam Executive Search & Human Capital Consulting in Frankfurt has led the Life Sciences & Healthcare Practice Group since July 2018. Mr. Breitfeld has close to 20 years of experience in the sector, recruiting for senior levels across EMEA. Prior to working in executive search, Mr. Breitfeld held roles in sales and marketing across Europe.

The IIC Partners Industrial Practice Group will be strengthened by the addition of John Wilhelm as deputy Leader. Mr. Wilhelm is based in Washington D.C. and is a Vice President at Dinte Executive Search. Mr. Wilhelm has over two decades of experience in supporting mid-size to large industrial clients develop their business and human capital strategies.

The Consumer & Retail Practice Group has appointed Louise Gatenby, Managing Partner & Co- Founder of The Orcid Partnership as deputy Leader. Ms. Gatenby who operates from Liverpool has over 25 years of experience in conducting general management and functional leadership searches for leading multi-national and privately-owned consumer good and retail businesses.

William Lacon will take on the role of deputy Leader of IIC Partners’ Energy Practice Group. Mr. Lacon who is a Partner at CurzonTrinitas, is based in London and works with many small and mid-cap exploration and production companies, as well as a number of the world’s leading upstream operators.

The Technology, Digital Media & Telecommunications Practice Group will be led by Allan Laurie based in Sydney who is a Director with de JAGER Executive Search. Mr. Laurie brings considerable experience in this role, and has a background in business analytics, operational and organizational performance, talent management, strategic business development and Government advisory.

Renee Arrington, Senior Vice President & Director at Pearson Partners International in Dallas and Board Director for IIC Partners, serves as the Board Liaison for Practice Groups. Ms. Arrington commented, “Each of these Leaders and deputy Leaders strengthens our global offerings by contributing their industry expertise to our Practice Groups. Their thought leadership is compelling, and their reputations are representative of the outstanding colleagues across the world in IIC Partners.”

IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide (www.iicpartners.com) is a top ten global executive search organization. All IIC Partners member firms are independently owned and managed and are leaders in local and national markets, developing solutions for their client’s organizational leadership and talent management requirements. For more information, please visit www.iicpartners.com or contact Christine Hayward, Executive Director, at chayward@iicpartners.com.

April 9, 2019
Forbes: America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2018

Pearson Partners is honored to have been recognized as one of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms by Forbes for the second consecutive year. We had the same honor in 2017 and we couldn’t be prouder of our hard-working team.

“The hiring process is rarely simple, whether you’re scouring the job market for your next employer or your next employee. Seventy-six percent of hiring managers admit attracting top talent is their greatest challenge, one that costs organizations an average 23.8 days and $4,129 per hire. Enlisting the services of a recruiting firm can streamline the search, but how are companies to know which ones are best equipped to help them win the talent war?” (Forbes, 2018)

READ MORE and see the list at Forbes.com.

June 1, 2018
Renee Arrington Receives Prestigious AESC Commitment to the Community Award

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Award honors Arrington’s 25 years of leadership in executive search combined with a strong commitment to community service

(DALLAS, Texas – May 31, 2018) – Pearson Partners International, a global executive search and leadership consulting firm, is pleased to announce that its senior vice president and director, Renee Baker Arrington, has been honored with one of the highest-level awards in the executive search profession.

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Development Consultants (AESC) bestows two annual awards: the AESC Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the executive search consulting profession (won in 2013 by Pearson Partners Founder & Chairman Robert Pearson), and the AESC Commitment to the Community Award for leadership in executive search combined with a strong commitment to community service. This year’s AESC Commitment to the Community Award recipient is Pearson Partners’ Renee Baker Arrington.

Arrington has worked in executive search for more than 25 years and contributes her time to numerous not-for-profit and civic organizations. In addition to serving on Pearson Partners’ board of directors, Renee serves on the board of directors of IIC Partners, one of the world’s top 10 executive search organizations, with 50 offices in 35 countries (Pearson Partners is a member of IIC Partners). Additionally, she serves on the boards of directors of the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of the Society for Information Management (SIM), the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) North Texas Chapter and the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Fort Worth, where she serves as chairman of the board. She is an executive committee member of Dallas Executive Women’s Roundtable (EWR) and a member of Fort Worth’s Women Steering Business (WSB). Renee has previously served on the board of North Texas Public Broadcasting (NPR Affiliate) and was board chairman of the YWCA of both Fort Worth and Tarrant Counties and the Fort Worth Westside YMCA.

“As someone who has built her career in this profession in retained executive search, it’s truly humbling that my name is now on a list among so many other leaders, colleagues and friends who have been recipients of this distinct award. I am also really proud that giving back to the community is one of the tenets of our firm at Pearson Partners,” notes Arrington.

Arrington was also selected this month as a 2018 C-Suite Award Winner by the Fort Worth Business Press for her business leadership as well as the civic and social contributions she has made to the community of Fort Worth and its organizations. This award came from nominations by Fort Worth business leaders.

“I regularly describe Renee as a process master, and she’s part of onboarding all of our new team members for that reason. In my years in this industry, I’ve never met anybody who is better at the process of filling a search,” said Pearson Partners’ president and CEO, Keith Pearson. “Renee truly has an endless capacity for giving back—not only to her work in our firm, but also to charities and civic organizations.”

June 1, 2018
Landing a Coveted Board Seat: CIO Insight from Renee Arrington

Pearson Partners SVP and CIO practice leader Renee Arrington was recently interviewed by HMG Strategy about how CIOs and other senior-level IT executives can pursue a corporate board seat. Renee is a frequent speaker at HMG Strategy’s CIO Executive Leadership Summits, an industry-leading series of events across the U.S. that focus on critical trends shaping the agenda for today’s technology executives.

As a growing number of CIOs express interest in landing a seat with a corporate board of directors, public boards are also looking to strengthen their technical knowledge. According to a recent study conducted by Deloitte, the percentage of public companies that have appointed technology-focused board members has swelled over the past six years from 10 percent to 17 percent. That figure nearly doubles (32 percent) for companies that outperformed the S&P 500 by 10 percent or more over the past three years.

HMG Strategy recently sat down with Renee Arrington, Pearson Partners CIO practice leader, to discuss steps that interested CIOs can take to prepare for and secure a desirable board position.

HMG: What are some initial steps that CIOs can take to groom themselves for a board position?

Renee Arrington: If your goal is to serve on a corporate board of directors…

Continued on the HMG Strategy website.

August 25, 2017