Egon Zehnder Opens New Office in Seattle
November 15, 2023 – Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has expanded in the Northwest with the addition of a new office in Seattle, WA. The firm notes that they will be opening another location in Vancouver, British Columbia opening in early 2024. “Time and again, the Pacific Northwest has proven itself as a hotbed for innovation and forward-looking leadership. Seattle continues to grow in both traditional and innovative industries while Vancouver is home to some of the world’s leading institutions, from technology to finance, and beyond,” said German Herrera, Egon Zehnder U.S. managing partner. “While Egon Zehnder has served clients in this area for more than two decades, we’re incredibly excited to expand our footprint with dedicated offices in Seattle and soon in Vancouver. We are drawn to the deep sense of community in this region and look forward to building long-term relationships with leaders who are driving innovation, navigating disruption, building dynamic teams, and more.”
The new Seattle office will be led by three founding consultants: Chris King-Sidney, most recently an industrials and energy executive; Patrick Mendenall, a tech and gaming industry executive; and Sara O’Gorman, prior leader in retail and early-stage company exec and investor. “This founding team of leadership advisory experts all based in Seattle will bring crucial, local perspective to a thriving business community that has significant potential for future growth,” Egon Zehnder said.
Mr. King-Sidney is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Industrial practice and, as an advisor to clients, supports them with the full range of leadership advisory, executive search, and board placement services. Prior to joining Egon Zehnder, he was president of global consulting for Ausenco, a resources and industrials-focused engineering and construction firm.
Mr. Mendenall is an active member of Egon Zehnder’s technology & communications practice with a special focus on the gaming industry. He leverages decades of management experience with responsibility for gaming, commerce, and consumer technologies to help clients build senior teams. Before joining Egon Zehnder, Patrick spent over 20 years in various management roles at Microsoft.
Related: Egon Zehnder Names U.S. Leader
Ms. O’Gorman is active in Egon Zehnder’s consumer and retail, apparel and luxury goods practices. She focuses on highly-entrepreneurial companies, family businesses, and early-stage ventures. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. O’Gorman drove business development and value creation at JM Family Enterprises.
Seattle Market
Seattle is well-known for its robust technology ecosystem. The city’s economy is driven by a mix of older industrial companies, and “new economy” internet and technology companies, service, design and clean technology companies. Seattle is a hotbed for start-up businesses, especially in green building and clean technologies, being ranked as America’s No. 1 “smarter city” based on its government policies and green economy. Four companies on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies, based on total revenue, are headquartered in Seattle: internet retailer Amazon, coffee chain Starbucks, department store Nordstrom, and freight forwarder Expeditors International of Washington.
Egon Zehnder currently ranks as a Top 5 global executive search firm, according to Hunt Scanlon Media. With more than 500 consultants in 68 offices and 40 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.
Egon Zehnder recently appointed Charles Gray as co-leader of its U.S. CEO and board practice. He joined Lisa Blais in co-leading the newly combined practice, effective immediately. Last year, Egon Zehnder combined its CEO and board practices globally under the leadership of Ashley Summerfield to coordinate efforts in building and deepening relationships with senior leadership. Ms. Blais and Mr. Gray will work closely with Ms. Summerfield to leverage global best practices, perspectives, and tools. “I am thrilled to bring the U.S. CEO and board practice into a new era alongside Chuck,” said Ms. Blais. “His bold, action-oriented leadership style and his ability to understand the needs of our clients will be key as we advise boards and CEOs on the increasingly challenging issues they face.”
Related: Egon Zehnder Names Co-Leader of Global Consumer Practice
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
