About Us

Hanold Associates Executive Search is a retained boutique executive search and coaching firm focused on HR, Diversity and Corporate Officers and Board Directors. Our clients include American Airlines, Apollo, Arizona Cardinals, Big Ten Conference, Biogen, Blackrock, Blackstone, Carnival Corp., Cartier, CBS News, College Football Hall of Fame,  Dick’s Sporting Goods, Domino’s Pizza, eBay, Electronic Arts, Fanatics, Federal Reserve Bank, Ford Motor Company, Fossil, Goodwill, Gucci, Kellogg, Kohler, L Catterton,  Live Nation Entertainment, Major League Baseball, Moderna, The National Football League, The New York Times, New York Football Giants, Nike, Nordstrom, Northwestern University, Paramount, Patagonia, Phillips 66, Prada, Red Hat, REI, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Save The Children, SC Johnson, Tapestry, Tiffany & Co., Tom Brady’s TB12, TPG, Under Armour, Vail Resorts, Walgreen, and Zoom.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Solutions And Expertise

We are passionate about building diverse, people-first organizations. “Human Resources,” “HR” or the “People” function has rapidly evolved. Today’s HR/People leaders must possess distinctive business acumen, have perspectives on the business beyond People implications and be concurrently strategic, hands-on and innovative.

We are experts in finding senior HR and diversity leaders who deliver strategic business impact. As an extension of the brands we serve, we blend the science of retained executive search with the art of understanding the important nuances of leadership attributes and how they sync with team dynamics.

Because we focus on crushing search execution―rigorous assessment, a fast process, and getting culture fit right―we are often asked to lead searches beyond HR and Diversity for other executive leaders and diverse Board Directors.

Solutions
  • Board Services
  • Executive Search
Industries
  • Consumer
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Healthcare Services
  • Industrial
  • Life Sci./Healthcare
  • Private Equity
  • Professional Services
  • Sports
  • Technology
Functions
  • Human Resources

News Briefings

Hanold Associates Places Head of Executive Recruiting at American Airlines 

Partners Sonia Nagra and Ashley Schiele of Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search recently assisted American Airlines in the recruitment of Maria-Clara Vasconcellos as head of executive recruiting. “Maria Clara is a vibrant and passionate talent acquisition leader who possesses a fantastic ability to attract best-in-class talent,” said Ms. Nagra. “She will be instrumental in creating an exceptional candidate

Cargill Selects Hanold Associates to Lead Chief Diversity Officer Search  

Chief diversity, equity and inclusion officers have emerged as key leaders during this enormous period of transition for workers and the workplace. With a global workforce shifting in complexity, there is a growing need for diversity experts who can shape the vision, culture and very face of organizations. At issue: Too few women and people

Hanold Associates Launches HR Advisory Practice

Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search has launched a new HR advisory practice. Neela Seenandan, co-CEO and managing partner, is leading the practice. “The past year has many organizations experiencing the challenges of not having the right level of HR leadership. Whilst transforming or pivoting their organizations or HR functions they need strong HR leaders to

Hanold Associates Recruits Global Chief Diversity Officer for FactSet

Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search recently recruited Vinay Kapoor as global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for FactSet, a global provider of financial data and software solutions for investment professionals. Partners Keri Gavin and Katrina Prospero led the assignment. “Vinay will be a transformative addition to FactSet’s executive team,” said Ms. Gavin. “Vinay has

Press Releases

TreeHouse Foods Appoints Head of Talent Acquisition from Search by Hanold Associates

CHICAGO (Mar. 10, 2021) ― TreeHouse Foods, a leading manufacturer and distributor of private label packaged foods and beverages, has appointed Josh Elmore as Head of Talent Acquisition (TA). Hanold Associates’ Mayank Parikh and Lisa Butkus led the Chicago-based search. Elmore spent six years at General Electric in various TA roles, and more recently comes

Material Appoints SVP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Search by Hanold Associates

CHICAGO (Mar. 9, 2021) ― Material, a modern marketing services company, has appointed Kiva Wilson as Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). Sandra Peña, Sonia Nagra and Keri Gavin led the search for this Los Angeles-based role. Wilson comes to Material from Paradigm and prior to that, Facebook, where she served in

Blue Bird Appoints Director of HR from Search by Hanold Associates

CHICAGO (Mar. 5, 2021) ― Blue Bird Corporation, the most innovative and technologically advanced designer and manufacturer of school buses, has appointed Ursula McNeill as Director of Human Resources. Hanold Associates’ Kile Hanold and Katrina Prospero led the Georgia-based search. McNeill comes to Blue Bird from IBM where she served as Global Director, Executive Succession and

Hess Corporation Retains Hanold Associates for Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Search

CHICAGO (Mar. 3, 2021) – Hess Corporation, a leading independent energy company, has retained Hanold Associates for its Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) search. Keri Gavin and Katrina Prospero are leading the search for this Houston-based role. The Director of DEI will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive DEI strategy for

A+E Networks Appoints Head of Talent Acquisition & Diversity from Search by Hanold Associates

CHICAGO (Mar. 2, 2021) ― A+E Networks, global media and entertainment brand, has appointed Fang Xu as Vice President, Talent Acquisition & Diversity. Hanold Associates’ Keri Gavin, Mayank Parikh and Ashley Schiele led the search for this role based in New York. Xu is a strategic talent advisor who comes to A+E from Capital One