Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
June 15, 2026 – Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance.
The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored development experiences that blend research, real-world diagnostics, and practical guidance to support directors navigating today’s business environment.
IMD’s research clearly shows that good governance is a driver of both corporate success and national competitiveness. Egon Zehnder’s global work in supporting the personal development of board directors and chairs has shown that, in times of accelerating change, this has become a decisive factor for success.
“Exceptional boards are built by board members who continually evolve in their expertise, personal development and team culture,” said Francesco Buquicchio, CEO of Egon Zehnder. “Through our partnership with IMD, a world class institution in executive education, board directors and chairs will receive a best in class offering, supporting them in reaching their full potential, strengthening collective effectiveness, and elevating governance across Europe and around the world.”
“This collaboration comes at a pivotal moment,” said David Bach, president of IMD. “Today’s board members navigate extraordinary complexity, from AI governance to sustainability oversight to geopolitical risk. At IMD we are embedded in the corporate world, working alongside boards as they tackle these challenges. When you combine this with Egon Zehnder’s board leadership expertise, you enable development experiences that translate directly into boardroom impact.”
Related: Egon Zehnder Elects Chair
Details of the offering, set to launch in autumn 2026, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Egon Zehnder currently ranks as a Top 5 global executive search firm, according to Hunt Scanlon Media. With more than 500 consultants in 70 offices and 36 countries around the globe, Egon Zehnder works with public and private corporations, family-owned enterprises, and non-profit and government agencies to provide board advisory services, CEO and leadership succession planning, executive search and assessment, and leadership development solutions. Since 1964, the firm has been at the forefront of defining top leadership in the face of changing economic conditions as well as major transitions in the executive search field.
New U.S. Market Leader
Egon Zehnder recently named Grant Clayton as U.S. market leader. He succeeded German Herrera, who has held the position since 2021 and was recently elected global chair of the firm.
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“It has been a privilege to witness the outstanding leadership that has driven Egon Zehnder’s growth in the United States, and I am thrilled to welcome Grant as our new U.S. leader,” said Mr. Buquicchio. “His deep expertise, commitment, and forward-looking vision make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our U.S. team. As German transitions to the role of global chair, I am confident that Grant will build upon our firm’s strong foundation and continue to deliver exceptional value for our clients and colleagues across the country.”
Mr. Clayton currently leads Egon Zehnder’s U.S. technology practice and formerly led the firm’s CFO and audit chair practice in the U.S. during his 15 years in the firm. He has deep experience in both executive search and leadership development, particularly with CFOs and financial leaders, with organizations ranging from Fortune 50 companies to small private-equity-backed businesses. Before joining Egon Zehnder, Mr. Clayton served as a partner and member of the investment committee of private equity firm CHB Capital Partners and as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on strategy, operations improvement, and business development initiatives.
Related: Egon Zehnder Appoints Leaders of Global Technology & AI Practice Group
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
