JM Search Expands Into Seattle and Los Angeles

February 15, 2017 – JM Search, a senior level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, continues to expand its footprint across the U.S., this time to Seattle and Los Angeles. The expansion is being led by Kevin Kernan, a former software executive and executive recruiter who joined the firm as a partner in 2016. The new locations add to the firm’s existing offices in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.

“Seattle and Los Angeles represent key growth areas for our firm, particularly in the technology sector where we have seen heightened demand for elite executive talent in both markets,” said Mr. Kernan. “Growing our presence in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest will allow us to better serve our growing client roster in these regions.”

Mr. Kernan focuses on recruiting CEOs, C-level executives and direct reports to the C-suite for SaaS, cybersecurity and analytics companies as a member of the firm’s technology practice. He brings over 30 years of executive leadership and recruiting experience within the technology sector to JM Search. He previously spent six years as a managing director at ChampionScott Partners.


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Before transitioning to executive search, Mr. Kernan spent 25 years in leadership roles with Serena Software, Secure Software and Rational Software. As CEO of Secure Software from 2003 to 2007 he built the leadership team and subsequently sold the business to Fortify Software, a portfolio company of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

“Kevin’s wealth of experience as a CEO, operating executive and board director, combined with his exceptional track record in executive search, uniquely positions him to advise clients on recruiting executive leadership,” said John Marshall, JM Search founder and CEO. “Kevin has made an immediate impact on our firm and we are thrilled to have him leading our expansion on the West Coast.”

Two Hot Cities for Recruiting Talent

Seattle’s economy is driven by a mix of older industrial companies, and ‘new economy’ internet and technology companies, service, design and clean technology companies. The city is a hotbed for start-up businesses, especially in green building and clean technologies, being ranked as America’s No. 1 “smarter city” based on its government policies and green economy. Four companies on the Fortune 500 list of the United States’ largest companies, based on total revenue, are headquartered in Seattle: Internet retailer Amazon, coffee chain Starbucks, department store Nordstrom, and freight forwarder Expeditors International of Washington.

The economy of Los Angeles is driven by international trade, entertainment (television, motion pictures, video games, music recording, and production), aerospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, apparel, and tourism. Other significant industries include finance, telecommunications, law, healthcare, and transportation. The Los Angeles–Long Beach metropolitan area has a gross metropolitan product of $866 billion, making it the third largest economic metropolitan area in the world, after Tokyo and New York.

Just recently, JM Search made its first hire in Los Angeles, adding Jerry Fong as a vice president. With a combination of management consulting and executive search experience, Mr. Fong has completed more than 100 searches for private equity-backed companies, select Fortune 1000s, and other growth-oriented businesses. He joined the firm following nearly six years with Morgan Samuels.

Headquartered outside of Philadelphia, JM Search recently expanded its operations to Chicago, where it currently employs three professionals. “Chicago has always been a core market for our firm and we are pleased to make the move downtown where many of our private equity clients ate located,” said Mr. Marshall.

Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media

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