Allen Austin is a Houston-headquartered retained executive search and leadership advisory firm, founded in 1996, with partners managing client engagements from offices across North America and Europe. In 30 years of continuous operation, the firm has completed more than 4,000 retained engagements without abandoning a single assignment — a record that reflects a fundamental commitment to seeing every engagement through to a successful outcome.
The firm’s approach to executive search is governed by Foresight™, a proprietary evidence-based process developed and refined over three decades. Unlike conventional search, Foresight™ begins with a rigorous Organizational and Position Needs Analysis — defining culture, performance expectations, and measurable success criteria before a single candidate is sourced. The result is a 92% placement retention rate at the two-year mark, compared to a 55% industry average, and a 97% offer-to-acceptance ratio, compared to a 70% industry norm. Every placement above $250,000 in total compensation is backed by a full two-year guarantee.
Allen Austin’s capabilities extend beyond search to include leadership assessment through its proprietary VantagePoint™ platform, executive coaching, organizational culture and performance advisory, founder and board advisory, and interim and fractional leadership placement. These capabilities are designed as an integrated system that supports the full leadership lifecycle — from organizational health diagnostics to executive placement, onboarding, and long-term leadership development.
Every engagement is led by a senior partner from start to finish. There are no junior handoffs. Clients engage the firm for a single search and frequently return for broader leadership challenges that arise in the course of that search.
Rob Andrews, Chairman and CEO, founded Allen Austin after a career as an operating president with P&L responsibility for enterprises of up to $2.4 billion in revenue and 10,600 employees. He is the author of High-Performance Human Capital Leadership and has been published in several professional publications, including the National Association of Corporate Directors’ Directorship Magazine on board governance and leadership risk. He is currently completing doctoral work in organizational leadership at the University of Texas.
Effective leadership communication isn’t about eloquence, charisma, or having the loudest voice in the room—it’s about connection. The most impactful leaders understand that words are only a small part of the equation. True influence comes from clarity, empathy, and the ability to listen as much as you speak. When leaders shift their focus from how
The best CEOs understand that true leadership requires more than boardroom strategy — it demands a deep connection with the front lines. By staying closely attuned to the day-to-day realities of their employees, customers, and operations, top executives can make better decisions, inspire their teams, and adapt more quickly to challenges. In today’s fast-moving business
Chief technology officers are crucial because they drive the technological vision and strategy of an organization, ensuring that technology investments align with business goals, according to executive recruiters. They oversee the development and implementation of innovative solutions, manage the technology team, and stay ahead of industry trends to keep the company competitive. Houston, TX-based search
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has helped to recruit Justin Jarski as the new CEO of Stress Engineering Services, Inc. “This momentous hire marks the first time the company has selected an external candidate for this role, signaling an exciting new era of leadership,” the search firm said. “Justin brings a wealth of experience and a long-standing
HOUSTON, TX, October 10, 2016 — Kevin Stewart brings over twelve years of extensive executive search consulting expertise to Allen Austin. Based in Houston, Kevin is a member of the firm’s global technology, life sciences, financial services and industrial practices. A versatile, driven and highly experienced executive search practitioner, Kevin has expertise in client management, process execution and
HOUSTON, TX, September 28, 2016 — Delano Gordon is a seasoned technology executive with a record of enabling improved business performance using a balanced approach of process simplification, sensible technology investments, and sound governance. He is well skilled at establishing trusted relationships with senior executives and technology partners. He has board level experience with oversight of strategic planning
HOUSTON, TX, September 20, 2016 — Allen Austin announces that it has selected ENGAGE, the sourcing intelligence platform that combines big data and predictive analytics to identify potential targets, to increase overall business intelligence, sourcing efficiency, speed and accuracy, while delivering better results for clients. For over twenty years, the partners of Allen Austin have been focused on how
HOUSTON, TX, August 15, 2016 — Linda Riley Mitchell has been named the new Chief Financial Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and the Episcopal Health Foundation. Mitchell succeeds Robert J. Biehl, who served as CFO and Treasurer for 16 years. Mitchell was most recently employed with the Chicago Housing Authority as Executive Vice President and Chief
HOUSTON, TX, August 2, 2016 — Allen Austin, a leading global management consulting firm specializing in retained search and leadership advisory consulting, announced today that it has opened an office in Boston. The firm has added six new partners to its team in 2016, as a part of its global strategy to provide deep industry and functional expertise,
Insights & Thought Leadership
What Apple’s CEO Transition Got Right And Why Most Boards Overlook This Lesson – boardmember.com
Why leadership assessments are failing HR leaders—and how to fix them – HR Executive Magazine
Why Execution Risk Fails to Show Up in Board Materials – National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Online