Eric Salmon & Partners Names Co-Leaders

February 13, 2017 – Executive search firm Eric Salmon & Partners has announced that its long-standing president, Massimo Milletti, has handed over management of the search firm to two partners who will co-head the partnership. Sophie Wigniolle from the firm’s Paris office will lead the together with Raoul Nacke, a managing director in Frankfurt.

“I am proud to announce that Sophie Wigniolle and Raoul Nacke will jointly lead Eric Salmon & Partners for the coming years,” said Ms. Milletti. “Both offer in-depth experience in our profession, strong personal values, consolidated management skills and a recognized image in their markets. This bold choice of two international profiles, embodying a new generation of experienced professionals, illustrates the ambition of Eric Salmon & Partners to meet the new challenges of our profession.”

Ms. Wigniolle and Mr. Nacke jointly stated: “We feel very honored by this election. Our co-presidency illustrates the sharing model and equal share principle of our firm. Our ambition is to accelerate the growth of our firm in some of our key markets within the coming years and to drive the transformation of Eric Salmon & Partners towards a fully embedded leadership consulting firm.”

The Recruiters

Apart from executive search, they said their plans are to further increase the firm’s share in leadership development, succession planning and assessment services.

Ms. Wigniolle has been working for Eric Salmon since 1998. From 2007 to 2015, she headed the Paris office as managing partner. Her search practice focuses on private equity, financial services and international retailers. Prior to joining the firm, she worked for 13 years in the banking sector, specializing in leveraged finance and corporate finance for Indosuez, then for HSBC where she was ultimately in charge of structured finance activities for the French market within the bank’s European team.

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Mr. Nacke has been with the firm since 2008. In 2012, he took over the role of managing partner for Germany. He has more than 20 years of experience in the executive search profession, serving international industrial and consumer goods clients as well as private equity portfolio and family owned companies. Prior to joining Eric Salmon & Partners, he worked for several years with Board Consultants International.

Founded in 1990, Eric Salmon & Partners primarily covers the European and Asian markets by way of nine offices (Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, Shanghai and Singapore). In addition, the firm maintains long term joint ventures in the U.S. and India.

Leadership Appointments Rising Across the Sector

There have been a number of other top leadership appointments at search firms in recent months, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts, and operations. Here’s a look at several taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

JR Partners named Josh Gonnella as president and senior managing partner. He joins founding partner and chief operating officer Joe Wein to lead the organization. He brings experience and a diverse career in financial services to the firm. Prior to accepting his new position, he held senior managing director roles at Lloyds Bank.

Snodgrass Partners announced that Tom Jacobs will transition from sports recruitment partner to president. Founder Steve Snodgrass, who previously served as president and chief executive officer, will remain CEO. Mr. Jacobs joined Snodgrass Partners last year to lead the firm’s new sports division.

U.K.-based executive search firm HW – Global Talent Partner tapped Spencer Jinks to serves as its new CEO. He took over from founding director John Wakeford, who headed the business for six years and now concentrates on growing the firm’s financial services, CFO and chair & NED practice. Mr. Jinks has been with the search firm for almost a decade, having joined as a director in 2007 after six years as executive recruitment director at the Caudwell Group.

Futurestep, a Korn Ferry company that provides talent acquisition solutions, named Bill Gilbert as president of Futurestep North America. He leads the strategy and growth efforts for both its search and solutions businesses in the region. In addition, he will drive the Futurestep strategy across the region and continue to work closely with Korn Ferry and Korn Ferry Hay Group colleagues to ensure an integrated approach.

Executive search firm Slone Partners named Leslie Loveless as its CEO. She succeeds Adam Slone, who founded the firm in 2000. Ms. Loveless joined Slone Partners in 2007 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2014.