WittKieffer is the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm developing impactful leadership teams for organizations that improve quality of life. We work exclusively with organizations in healthcare, science, and education—the Quality of Life Ecosystem—and provide the essential knowledge, analysis and perspective that produce effective leaders and inclusive cultures. Through our executive search, interim leadership, and leadership advisory solutions, we strengthen organizations that make the world better. WittKieffer is proud to be 100 percent employee-owned. Visit www.wittkieffer.com to learn more.
We’re always learning from our clients when we conduct executive searches — about what it takes to lead organizations committed to improving the quality of life. Goals like making high-quality, cost-conscious healthcare widely available to individuals and families, advancing higher education, and life sciences companies achieving medical innovation require stewardship, highly-specialized knowledge and broad experience.
WittKieffer recruits great CEOs, CFOs, COOs, physician leaders, presidents, and other executives for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and other health-related organizations; life sciences companies including pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics and medical device corporations; colleges and universities and not-for-profit community service organizations and foundations. Our clients have relied on WittKieffer for more than 55 years to help recruit leaders with the best mix of skills, experience, vision and character to fulfill their missions. For them and for us, executive search is about much more than filling a chair — It’s about bringing great leadership to your organization.
WittKieffer recruits great CEOs and other executives for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and other health-related organizations; life sciences companies including pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics and medical device corporations; colleges and universities and not-for-profit community service organizations and foundations.
Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has assisted in the recruitment of renowned social scientist William F. Tate as the 22nd president of Rutgers University. Jonathan Holloway announced that he would step down on June 30, 2025. Zachary Smith, Robin Mamlet, and Christine Pendleton led the assignment. Mr. Tate’s selection as president follows the efforts of a 20-member presidential search committee, which
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has assisted in the recruitment of Michael Hill as vice president for human resources and CHRO of the University of Tampa (UTampa). Principal Sarah Palmer led the assignment along with consultant Ashlee Winters Musser. Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, president of UTampa, said she was impressed by Mr. Hill’s leadership experience, and his experience aligning human resources policies
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has assisted in the recruitment of Thomas Poon as the 17th president of Loyola Marymount University (LMU). He will succeed Timothy Law Snyder, beginning in the role on June 1, 2025. Suzanne Teer, Philip Tang, and Alejandra Gillette-Teran led the assignment. Similarly to the last two presidents, Dr. Poon is not a Jesuit. Notably, he is the first person of
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has launched its Physician Leadership Institute, an initiative designed to support and prepare experienced physicians for executive leadership roles across the healthcare field. The institute offers customized executive development led by a team of experienced physician leaders and leadership coaches and tailored to the specific needs of hospitals and health systems. “I am extremely
Oak Brook, IL – February 22, 2024 – Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) announced the addition of Michael Castleman, WittKieffer’s Chief Business Officer and Executive Partner for its Global Life Sciences, Investor-Backed Healthcare and Interim Leadership Solutions practices, to its Global Board of Directors. It also recognized WittKieffer’s Morten Nielsen, a Senior
Oak Brook, Illinois, December 4, 2023 – WittKieffer, the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm improving quality of life through impactful leadership, today announced the expansion of its interim and on-demand leadership solutions to the life sciences and investor-backed healthcare markets. Ysette Witteveen, a veteran interim and on-demand talent advisor and former management consultant,
Oak Brook, Illinois, Nov. 16, 2023 – WittKieffer, the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm developing impactful leadership solutions for organizations that improve the quality of life, has announced that Principal Melody Rose, Ph.D., has broadened her role with the firm and joined its Leadership Advisory practice. Dr. Rose, a former university president and
Oak Brook, Illinois, Nov. 1, 2023 – WittKieffer, the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm developing impactful leadership solutions for organizations that improve the quality of life, today unveiled a new website that serves as a content-rich, dynamic digital home for the market-leading 54-year-old company. The new site (still at www.wittkieffer.com) highlights the firm’s
Oak Brook, Illinois, January 10, 2023 – WittKieffer, a premier executive search and advisory firm improving quality of life through impactful leadership, today announced the expansion of its Leadership Advisory practice with the addition of two exceptional senior partners: Lynn Foster and Raj Ramachandran. “We focus exclusively on organizations in not-for-profit and for-profit healthcare, life
Reports & Guides:
Boards of Trustees in Higher Education
Reframing the Modern Medical School Deanship
The Healthcare CFO: Leading Financial and Strategic Transformation at Scale
Guide to Higher Education Presidential Transition
The State of Physician Leadership
Leading Academic Medicine Through Transformation
Healthcare CEO Transition Guide
The Multifaceted Role of CHROs in US Healthcare Delivery
AI Leadership in Healthcare: Emerging and Evolving | WittKieffer
The Invisible Lever: Harnessing Organizational Intelligence (OQ) to Orchestrate Change at Scale
The Healthcare CISO: A Review of Reporting Relationships
Decoding the Healthcare COO Role