Caldwell Partners Names Chief Operating and Financial Officer
September 27, 2017 – Search firms have seen a number of top leadership appointments since the start of the year, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts and operations. Among them, executive search firm Caldwell Partners International recently named Chris Beck as chief operating and financial officer.
“Chris is a collaborative and energetic leader with the vision to grow our organization, ensure our financial strength and operating efficiency, and drive the development of new products, solutions and services,” said John Wallace, chief executive officer. “Under his leadership and counsel, we have attained our financial goals, expanded our reach via acquisition and strategic partnerships, and enhanced the manner and degree to which we are able to serve our clients.”
“He has also elevated the visibility of the firm externally, serving as a continuing member of the organizing committee of the MIT Sloan CFO Summit and as a member of the Leadership Committee of Out Leadership, both under the Caldwell banner.”
New Role
Mr. Beck’s role will encompass all of the financial and investor relations functions, as well as providing day-to-day leadership and management across the firm, spearheading growth strategies and processes, and fostering a success-oriented accountable environment inside the firm, said Caldwell Partners. He will also lead diversity, inclusion and equality initiatives, technology and process efficiency, growth of the firm’s executive knowledge and advisory board solutions, and the identification and growth of new service lines.
Mr. Beck, who is based in Boston, joined Caldwell in 2013. He has more than 20 years of experience in finance with a track record of leading and managing financial, accounting and business operations. His ownership and management of specific departments and functions include accounting, finance, human resources, strategic planning, business process improvement, information technology, treasury and corporate secretary board governance duties.
“Chris has steadily taken on more responsibility for our firm’s day-to-day operations in his four-plus years here,” said Mr. Wallace. “This appointment is a natural evolution of the role he has assumed and by naming him as our chief operating and financial officer, we are acknowledging the importance of the expanded leadership role he plays as we continue to look toward a bright future of limitless possibilities.”
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Prior to joining Caldwell Partners, Mr. Beck was CFO, treasurer and corporate secretary of BirdDog, a transportation services company focused on providing solutions to both shippers and motor carriers. From 2000 to 2007, Mr. Beck was CFO at Highland Partners, a global executive search firm and a division of the public company Hudson Highland Group (formerly part of TMP/ Monster Worldwide). From 1996 to 2000, he held various controller, financial function and M&A roles, culminating in CFO at Alper Ink Group, a private equity/ family office funded company. During his tenure there, he participated in the company’s acquisition and integration activity, closing seven acquisitions in a four-year time span. He began his career in 1992 at Deloitte in the audit practice.
Recent Additions
During the quarter, Caldwell added Kathy Ventura as a partner in its consumer, e-commerce & retail, and marketing & communications practices based in its Stamford, Conn office. Ms. Ventura recruits senior executives in all areas of consumer products and services, including consumer technologies, automotive, lifestyle brands and consumer financial services. She also specializes in corporate reputation leadership roles, including communications, public affairs and corporate marketing. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, private equity and other alternative asset firms, and their portfolio companies. Her work also encompasses diversity and inclusion initiatives for her clients. She was previously with Russell Reynolds Associates, where she led the firm’s corporate communications practice.
The firm also recently named Matt Comyns as managing partner of its cybersecurity search practice. He, too, is based in the firm’s Stamford office and was also recruited out of Russell Reynolds Associates. Mr. Comyns has a distinct and well-regarded focus on recruiting chief information security officers and next-level-down top lieutenants in information security for large global corporations and fast growing private companies, as well as cyber security consultants for leading professional services firms and top executives for cyber security technology companies. He previously co-led Russell Reynolds global cybersecurity practice, where he served for nearly six years.
In addition, Caldwell appointed Shawn Banerji as managing partner of the firm’s technology, digital and data leaders practice. Specializing in the global technology sector, Mr. Banerji recruits CIOs and CTOs across major industries, including financial services, telecom / technology, retail / consumer, healthcare, industrial / natural resources, as well as media and internet. He also has extensive experience in business process outsourcing, process improvement, and shared services. Like the others, Mr. Banerji joins Caldwell in Stamford and was recruited from Russell Reynolds Associates, where he most recently served as a leader in the firm’s technology officers practice.
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
