AltoPartners Forms Alliance with Better Boards

November 29, 2018 – AltoPartners, an international partnership of independent executive search firms and leadership consultants, has formed an alliance with Better Boards, a research-led board evaluation methodology and development program conceptualized by Sabine Dembkowski.

The evidence-based approach of Better Boards provides strong insights into the hallmarks of effective boards, enables individuals to become more impactful in the boardroom and thereby further optimizes the collective, said AltoPartners.

“Better Boards’ product is better than anything else on the market and by quite some margin,” said Carol Leonard, managing partner of  the Inzito Partnership and AltoPartners global operating committee member. “It offers a completely fresh approach, which is much more rigorous but also more positive and supportive, than anything else currently on offer. It encourages and reinforces the strengths of board members and vice versa, in a very clever way. It can be used equally effectively at executive level, offering CEO’s an extraordinary new tool. In either scenario it adds serious value, which is so refreshing when compared to the usual box ticking alternatives.”

Globally, AltoPartners local member firms work extensively at both the executive and board level. “In the course of non-executive searches, our teams find themselves working with briefs that have been informed by the results of board evaluations,” said the collective.

“Following discussions and a period of review, we have studied the evaluation tools and methodologies of Better Boards and continue to be impressed by the approach that Dr. Sabine Dembkowski and her team take,” AltoPartners said. “It is on this basis that we announce that AltoPartners has added them to a select group of external organizations that we endorse and recommend to our clients.”

Dr. Dembkowski said she met many of the AltoPartners members at the recent global partner meeting in Chile and was impressed with the approach and professionalism of the partners in the alliance. “I am proud to be associated with the AltoPartners global alliance and look forward to collaborating with local partners in many countries,” she said. “Together we can provide boards with a cutting-edge approach to board evaluations and contribute to the creation of better boards.”

Luring Directors

Although boards of directors are considered the backbones of organizations, director recruiting has grown markedly more challenging, say recruiters who conduct searches in that area. According to Egon Zehnder, heightened expectations now placed on boards have elevated both the professional standards and personal commitment required of all directors.

At the same time, many boards find that the supply of independent-minded “board experienced” directors – especially those who can add vital forms of specialized skills and expertise – is limited. Such candidates are widely sought but can be hesitant to take on the intensive responsibilities now required of board service.

Related: Boards Seek Diversity with Help of Executive Recruiters

As a result, companies continue to turn to executive search firms to help find new board members. Most in demand are women, senior leaders with global experience, ethnically diverse professionals and Millennials.

Here’s a brief look at a small selection of search firms and their recent board work taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media newswire archives:

The Katris Group, an executive recruitment firm, has placed Catherine M. Kilbane as a member of the board of directors at Nasdaq-traded Interface Inc., a global commercial flooring company and worldwide leader in sustainability. Ms. Kilbane served as SVP, general counsel and secretary of the Sherwin Williams.

Greenwich Harbor Partners placed Eric Johnson as a member of the board of directors at the New York Pops. He is the eighth director to be placed on the Pops board by the Greenwich, CT-based search firm. The assignment was led by managing directors Carrie Pryor and Ted Pryor. 

Diversified Search has recruited Betsy Atkins, Dee Dee Myers and Wendy Webb as members of the board of directors for Wynn Resorts. Wynn Resorts is pleased to welcome Betsy, Dee Dee and Wendy to its board of directors following a thorough search process that included input from shareholders and Diversified Search.

Boyden has placed Joe Guith, Matthew Wadiak and Etienne Patout as members of the board of directors at Goodwill Industries International. “After an exhaustive search, Boyden is enthusiastic about the talent that Joe, Matthew and Etienne bring to the Goodwill team,” said Alicen Blair-Sibly, a managing partner of Boyden in Atlanta. 

Polachi Inc. placed Sam King and Angela Tucci as new members of the board of directors at Progress Software in Bedford, MA. Ms. King is senior vice president, general manager and chief strategy officer of Veracode, the application security business of CA Technologies. Ms. Tucci is CEO of Apto.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media