PRESS RELEASES
Dale E. Jones is Awarded Executive Search Industry’s Highest Honor
(Nov. 19, 2020) Calling him “a role model for leadership within our profession,” Association of Executive Search Consultants President Karen Greenbaum presented Dale E. Jones, the CEO of the Diversified Search Group, with the organization’s “Award of Excellence” this week at the AESC’s annual Global Conference. The Award of Excellence is the AESC’s highest award.
In making the award presentation, Greenbaum spoke about Jones’s deep commitment to servant leadership and DEI. “Dale not only shares these axioms, he lives them every day. Dale’s commitment to elevating the executive search industry to a higher purpose is apparent in his work, his philanthropy, and the deep relationships he has built with clients,” she said. As one of the industry’s “leading and loudest voices” around corporate social responsibility, she said, “Dale believes in the power of shared values, and the critical mission of being an organization that carries purpose beyond profits.”
In his acceptance remarks, Jones recalled his humble upbringing as the son of a widowed shoe cobbler and weekend janitor, and how he benefitted from great mentors who saw his potential and made sure that it did not remain untapped. He also gave thanks to Founder and Chair Judith M. von Seldeneck, who brought him to Diversified Search as CEO in 2013.
“Now we are one of the leading, foremost firms helping to provide leadership for organizations, known for our great work in and around diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Jones said. “This has been a great experience, and I am so humbled the AESC would award me this honor, because we believe to whom much is given, much is required.”
The Award of Excellence “recognizes an individual who makes an outstanding impact in the executive search and leadership consulting profession, especially in reinforcing the AESC commitment to the highest professional standards.” It was presented at the AESC’s Global Conference, held virtually from November 17th to the 19th. The conference attracted more than 16,000 attendees from around the world, and featured speakers and panels centered around such topics as Leading Through the Unknown, ESG and Responsible Investment, and Inclusion at the Heart of Business Strategy. Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group, was also presented with the Award of Excellence.
Jones joined Diversified Search—following several key acquisitions, the firm became known as the Diversified Search Group earlier this year—after establishing himself as one of the search industry’s premier leaders at Heidrick & Struggles, where he served as Vice Chairman and Partner of the CEO and Board Practice. In addition to his role as the CEO of the Diversified Search Group, Jones also serves on the boards of Northwestern Mutual, The Special Olympics, and Morehouse College, his alma mater. He also serves as a Global Board Member of AltoPartners, the international alliance of search firms with offices in more than 30 countries around the world.
“In almost 50 years of overseeing an executive search firm, I have had to make a lot of important decisions,” said von Seldeneck. “And none has been better than the one I made to hire Dale Jones as our CEO. His brilliance, compassion, insight, and commitment to clients, and to making the world a better place to live, are unmatched in our industry. I am proud to have him leading our firm.”
