Allen Austin Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Heath Consultants Incorporated
February 13, 2025 – Chief technology officers are crucial because they drive the technological vision and strategy of an organization, ensuring that technology investments align with business goals, according to executive recruiters. They oversee the development and implementation of innovative solutions, manage the technology team, and stay ahead of industry trends to keep the company competitive. Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has assisted in the recruitment of Rodney Townsend as chief technology officer of Heath Consultants Incorporated. “Allen Austin is proud to announce the successful placement of Rodney Townsend as chief technology officer at Heath Consultants Incorporated,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post. “When Heath created this key leadership role, they needed more than just technical expertise—they sought a visionary leader to drive innovation and align with their culture of excellence.”
“Through a strategic and collaborative search, we identified Rodney Townsend, a seasoned executive with leadership experience at Avis Budget Group, JetBlue Airways, and United Airlines,” Allen Austin said. “His expertise in digital transformation, engineering, and product innovation makes him the perfect fit to lead Heath’s technology and safety initiatives.”
“By aligning with Heath’s vision and values, we found a leader who brings both expertise and cultural fit,” said Edie Bartlett, partner at Allen Austin. “We are thrilled to see Rodney lead Heath’s digital evolution and continue delivering cutting-edge safety solutions.”
Mr. Townsend most recently served as vice president of technology products and engineering at Avis Budget Group from November 2023 to January 2025, and prior to that, the vice president of technology products at JetBlue from June 2022 to November 2023. His extensive tenure at United Airlines, spanning from January 2011 to June 2022, included roles such as managing director of digital channels and personalization, managing director of customer mobility solutions, managing director of IT customer travel experience, and managing director of Loyalty Services. Mr. Townsend began his career at Continental Airlines, holding positions from managing director of airport applications development to project manager, and earlier worked as a webmaster at EDS Group.
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Since 1933 Heath Consultants Incorporated has led the industry in the safety of natural gas utilities infrastructure. Headquartered in Houston, TX, the company specializes in enhancing the safety of natural gas utilities infrastructure through innovative products and services. Their offerings include methane detection systems, underground utility line locating, meter and corrosion services, and gas leak vegetation surveys.
Proven Search Consultants
Allen Austin is a top 40 global management consulting firm specializing in executive search and leadership advisory services. Founded in 1996, the firm partners with boards, CEOs and senior leaders of companies small and large, public and private, family-owned, private equity, venture-backed, domestic and international. Allen Austin has more than 30 partners managing client engagements from offices in 20 cities in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Executive Search in 2024: Challenges, Trends, and Hopes for a Hiring Resurgence in 2025
For many search firms in almost all industry segments, 2024 has been a tough year. There are many reasons for the recent downturn, and some firms have experienced a dip in revenues for even longer, according to Tim Tolan, founder, chairman, and managing partner of The Tolan Group. “Lots of changes are on the horizon for 2025 on the hiring front, and search firms are waiting with bated breath while hiring decisions are on hold, and draft fee agreements are (still) sitting in DocuSign waiting to be signed,” he said. “Decisions are dragging, as are active search engagements, as hiring managers and leaders struggle to make hiring decisions in the environment, we are all trying to navigate.”
In the Hunt Scanlon 2024 Executive Recruiting State of the Industry Report, the numbers reflected a double-digit downturn in demand for executive recruiting, with the private equity sector being the most affected. “We’ve seen and experienced that firsthand, but we feel positive changes are on the horizon,” Mr. Tolan said.
Rob Andrews is founder and CEO of Allen Austin, a leadership advisory and executive search firm. He leads Allen Austin’s global CEO, consumer packaged goods & durables practice, and is also a member of the firm’s leadership advisory, private equity, industrial and marketing officer practices. Building on his earlier career experience as an operating president with major convenience store and supermarket chains, Mr. Andrews conducts searches for board members, CEO, and senior officers across a broad range of sectors.
Based in Houston, Ms. Bartlett is a partner, and a member of the firm’s consumer & retail, marketing officer, business development, and industrial practices. She has over 20 years’ experience in executive leadership roles with prestigious consumer packaged goods companies Including Warner Brothers, MGM Studio and Starz. Her expertise encompasses all areas of CPG distribution including, sales, marketing, and product distribution across all classes of trade such as, E-Commerce including Amazon, digital platforms such as Apple and brick and mortar retailers across with U.S. and Canada.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
