Arlington Partners Lands CEO for Institutional Limited Partners Association
March 13, 2018 – A variety of trade associations have turned to search firms in recent months to find new leaders. Arlington Partners International recently recruited Steven Nelson as CEO of the Institutional Limited Partners Association in Washington, D.C. Lisa Heidman, the firm’s founder and CEO, and Deborah Magidson, senior client partner, led the assignment.
ILPA was seeking an exceptional motivational leader and communicator with a track record of bringing out the best in leadership teams across geographies, said Arlington Partners. Mr. Nelson fit that bill. He brings 20 years of global experience serving endowments, foundations, pensions and family offices at Cambridge Associates where he held numerous leadership roles including his most recent position as chief operating officer. At Cambridge Associates, he was responsible for global business operations, and in prior roles was co-head of global consulting, leading the firm’s investment advisory practice and the growth for Asia Pacific.
“Steve Nelson brings an authentic and collaborative leadership style to our board of directors and team,” said Tanya Carmichael, managing director, global funds, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and chair of the ILPA board of directors. “His strong strategic planning, business building background and vision for the organization will be an incredible asset to our membership, which continues to grow substantially. Together, we are looking forward to an exciting future.”
Mr. Nelson spoke of his high regard for his new organization and the potential for future success. “The unique role ILPA plays in delivering top-tier education and advocacy as well as meaningful resources and events to limited partners around the world has never been more critical,” he said. “Together with the ILPA Board and an exceptionally talented professional staff, I am eager to increase the impact of existing programming, expand where we have the opportunity to add real value, and ultimately, drive even better investment outcomes for our members.”
The Institutional Limited Partners Association engages, empowers and connects limited partners to maximize their performance on an individual, institutional and collective basis, said the search firm. The association has more than 450 member institutions representing over $1 trillion of private-equity assets under management. It is also the only global organization dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of limited partnerships and their beneficiaries through best-in-class education, research, advocacy and networking.
Non-Profit Recruiters
Based in Toronto, Arlington Partners includes more than 20 partners, consultants and board advisors, each with extensive private sector, non-profit and public sector experience. The team has decades of combined board and senior executive experience. Its members have broad business expertise and have held senior executive and board leadership positions in top organizations across North America.
Ms. Heidman has upwards of 20 years of legal, business, board and executive search experience collaborating with CEOs, senior executives and top talent from a wide range of industries. She has worked with some of the most iconic private sector companies in Canada and the U.S., advising boards and their senior leadership teams, and placing C-suite executives and their critical support teams across varied enterprises. Ms. Heidman has also made a significant footprint in the non-profit, academic, healthcare and public sectors. She has led North American and global board, CEO and senior executive searches for numerous large non-profit organizations.
Ms. Magidson, for her part, has broad consulting, assessment, board and senior executive search experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors in Canada and the U.S. At Arlington Partners, she is responsible for developing the non-profit, healthcare, academia, media and entertainment, loyalty and legal practice areas across North America. In conjunction with Arlington Partners’ managing partner team, she leads searches across all industry sectors around the world.
Trade Associations Turn to Search Firms
Non-profit trade associations have turned to executive search firms in recent months to find new leaders. Here’s a look at a few from the Hunt Scanlon Media newswire archives:
The board of directors search committee of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) has announced its selection of CarterBaldwin Executive Search to assist in the identification, evaluation and transition of its next CEO. Chris Guiney, partner and head of the energy and infrastructure practice at CarterBaldwin, is leading the assignment.
JDG Associates has been selected by the Schaumburg, IL-based Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute to find its next president and CEO. Principal Paul Belford is leading the assignment. Founded in 1924, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute is a technical institute and standards developing organization.
Executive recruiters Quick Leonard Kieffer placed Stephen J. Lawler as president of the North Carolina Hospital Association. The firm’s partner Jake Barto and principal Mike Quick led the search. The North Carolina Hospital Association, created in 1918, represents more than 130 hospitals.
Sterling Martin Associates is currently seeking new leaders for The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations and The International Safety Equipment Association. Managing partner David S. Martin, along with senior recruiters Leigh Beal and Kahti Motley, is leading both assignments.
Association Strategies has been tapped by the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health to lead its search for a new president and CEO. Search firm president Pamela Kaul is leading the assignment. Located in Washington, D.C., the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health is the voice of accredited academic public health.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media