Laura Agharkar, VP, Global Head of HR – Apex Fintech Solutions

Laura Agharkar is a leader in human resources and talent management, currently holding the position of VP, Global Head of HR at Apex Fintech Solutions. Her extensive experience in leading robust teams across prestigious companies like Nasdaq and Samsung has positioned her at the forefront of driving the company’s talent strategies to bolster business growth and foster innovation. At Apex Fintech Solutions, Laura’s strategic focus is on nurturing an engaging workplace culture, honing talent acquisition initiatives, and spearheading comprehensive Talent Management and Organizational Development programs. These programs designed to align with the company’s ambitious growth targets, all underpinned by her commitment to a people-first philosophy. Laura is a proud alumna of the University of Oregon.

Elisa Bannon-Jones, Chief People Officer – GNC

Elisa Bannon-Jones serves as chief people officer of the Company. Most recently, Elisa was chief human resources officer at Frontier Communications, where she had responsibility for developing and executing the human resource strategy in support of the overall strategic direction of the organization. Prior to joining Frontier Communications, Bannon-Jones served in human resources, sales and operations leadership roles at The Budget Group, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Brightstar Corp.

Joseph Blass, Chief Executive Officer – Ezekia

Joseph started his career as an economist in the public sector. He then worked for a global family business managing a varied portfolio of investments in manufacturing, real estate and financial services.

Prior to founding Ezekia (www.ezekia.com), Joseph was an executive, managing both privately held and publicly listed Telecom and IT Companies. He founded Ezekia in 2015 and, together with his team, has built Ezekia into the leading CRM and Assignment Management tool for executive search firms. Recently the company has released Hylark (www.hylark.com) which is an uber-customizable life management software.

Janice Ellig, CEO – Ellig Group

As the head of the Ellig Group, Janice is dedicated to increasing the placement of women and diverse candidates on corporate boards and in c-suites by 2025. Janice joined the legacy firm in 2000 and became co-chief executive officer in its transition to Chadick Ellig in 2007; she assumed sole ownership of the company as the Ellig Group in 2017 with a new focus on Reimagining Search. Prior to her career in executive search, Janice spent 20 years in corporate America at Pfizer, Citi and Ambac Financial Group, an IPO from Citibank, where she was responsible for marketing, human resources, and administration.

Chris Gagnon, Managing Director of Capital – CEO.Works

Chris Gagnon focuses on partnering with private equity firms to accelerate the transformation of their portfolio companies using CEO.works’ proprietary Talent to ValueTM approach. His reputation for having built McKinsey’s suite of digital business tools for their organization practice is surpassed only by his practical understanding of how to simultaneously accelerate speed to value and increase enterprise value.

Chris made his mark as a senior partner at McKinsey & Company bringing hard data to the soft topics of people analytics and organizational health and design. Between 2011 and 2021, he built and led the team of 250+ data scientists, psychologists, and developers who created OrgSolutions, the firm’s largest, most profitable portfolio of digital solutions, including the Organizational Health Index, OrgLab, and People Analytics. As co-leader of McKinsey’s Global Organization Practice, he served C-suite clients in private equity, finance, information services, and CG&S. He also guided global research into innovative approaches for developing fast, human-centric, tech-enabled organizations.

Previously, Chris spent a decade in the world of private equity, co-founding and later joining several different firms. During this time, he participated in all aspects of the business: raising funds and chairing the fundraising team; building diversified funds representing over $1B in investment capital; sourcing and investing in various deals; working closely with operating partners; and serving on the board and executive committees of portfolio companies.

In the first decade of his career, Chris designed corporate change programs, divisional turnarounds, and Chapter 11 restructurings as a principal of McKinsey. He led firm-building initiatives in recruitment and leadership development, as well as the team that wrote the firm’s 1996 codebook on corporate change, Real Change Leaders: How You Can Create Growth and High Performance at Your Company.

Chris holds an M.B.A. and a B.A. (Dartmouth). The Harvard Business Review and McKinsey Quarterly have published many of his articles on analytics, agility, leadership, and organizational health.

Michele Golden, EVP & Global Chief People Officer – IMAX

Michele Golden is a highly experienced senior leader advising C-suite executives on the alignment of business and people strategies that impact performance, culture, and business success globally. She has expertise leading the people & culture function for businesses and brands at the forefront of technology changes, transformation, and growth. Michele has a diverse background as a business partner, talent management executive, and diversity leader in large, multi-billion dollar global organizations in media, entertainment, advertising, sports, and manufacturing.

Alan Guarino, Vice Chairman, CEO and Board Services – Korn Ferry

Alan Guarino is Vice Chairman in our CEO and Board Services practice for Korn Ferry based in the Firm’s New York office.

In 2007,Alan joined Korn Ferry. He co-founded Korn Ferry’s CEO Succession Practice, an industry leading model that transformed the approach to CEO succession management. He also launched Korn Ferry’s Execution Accelerator initiative, helping business leaders better execute their strategies by optimizing talent.

Alan leads major consulting initiatives across industries with deep expertise in FinTech, financial markets, digital assets, digital transformation, and disruptive technology. He also leads senior executive search and C-suite succession assignments for large Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller growth companies.

Alan is a member of the Board of Directors of The Union League Club. He is an LP Advisor to NYCA, Axoni, Censia, Sustainable Holdings, and FinTech TV. He is a Limited Partner with FTV Capital.

Alan was appointed by the Secretary of the Army to serve on the Army Science Board to advise on talent strategy for the U.S. Army. Alan currently serves on the Admissions Committee of The Economics Club of New York. Alan has served as a public company board member of The Chef’s Warehouse (NASDAQ: CHEF) for a decade with revenue growth from $300mm to $4.2BB where he was the chair of the Compensation Committee. He is the past chairman of the Saint Pio Foundation and was founding chairman of the board of Boy’s and Girl’s Town of New York, president
of the West Point Society of New York, and as finance chairman of the Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries.

Alan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Embry Riddle University while on active duty in the United States Army. After commanding an Armor Troop as a Captain, Alan left the U.S. Army.

Lisa Hooker, Managing Partner – ZRG Partners

Lisa Hooker is located in the Austin office of ZRG Partners and is the Global Technology Practice Leader and a member of the Board practice. She is also an active member of the firm’s Private Equity Practice and the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Practice. She brings a career spanning more than 20 years of executive search consulting and has delivered board and leadership projects for Fortune 500, mid-cap, and SMEs as well as private equity, pre-IPO, and venture-backed clients in the technology sector. Lisa serves as a trusted advisor to the C-suite and boards of directors on topics including CEO succession, board efficiency, director onboarding, and leadership assessment and development.

Prior to joining ZRG Partners, Lisa was a Partner at Odgers Berndtson and was a founding Partner of BridgeStreet Partners executive search. She also served as the Vice President and North American Technology Practice Leader for A.T. Kearney Executive Search and Managing Partner, Technology Practice Leader, and Member of the Board of Directors for Ray & Berndtson. Lisa began her career at MCI Telecommunications, where she held numerous sales and marketing roles. She lived in Los Angeles for nearly a decade and New York for 20 years prior to moving to Austin.

Passionate about diversity as well as connecting businesses with exceptional talent, Lisa brings dedicated expertise in communications, AI/machine learning, MarTech, cloud, cybersecurity, IoT, and SaaS. A strategic and collaborative business leader with extensive, broad-based experience aligning talent to achieve organizational goals, Lisa is focused on delivering superior business results to her clients.

Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising & Marketing from Pepperdine University, where she graduated cum laude.

Tracy McMillan, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner – BroadView Talent Partners

Tracy McMillan has over 25 years of experience providing executive search, retention solutions and leadership advisory services to clients. He has developed a strong focus within the affordable housing, non-profit, and middle-market sectors, and established a track record of well-placed, long-tenured C-Suite executives.

Prior to starting BroadView Talent Partners (formerly HCGA Consulting Partners) in 2015, Tracy served as the VP of global talent acquisition for the NBA. Previously, he spent five years as a managing director at The Diversified Search Group, a Top 10 global executive search firm. Past experience also includes founding, leading, and managing The McMillan Group, a Philadelphia area-based retained executive search firm that served clients of distinction across all functional areas and industries. Tracy began his executive search career with Carrington & Carrington, Ltd. in Chicago and later joined LaMonte Owens, Inc. where he served as senior vice president.

Tracy’s passion lies in delivering a positive experience for both client and candidate, treating each with professionalism and respect. His ability to truly listen allows him to deliver solutions tailored to their unique needs. As a result, his clients achieve long-term business success as well as an enhanced workplace culture driven by diversity, equity and inclusion. Tracy regularly leads and advises boards and on various topics, including executive search, leadership assessment, succession planning, talent management, executive compensation and retention strategies. A dynamic keynote speaker and presenter, he frequently speaks on these topics at conferences and organizations nationwide.

Azurée S. Montoute-Lewis, Global Chief People Officer – Hill & Knowlton

Azurée is an accomplished human resources executive with demonstrated expertise in talent acquisition and management, learning and development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, rewards and recognition, and people operations and systems. She serves as H&K’s Global Chief People Officer, where she draws on almost two decades of experience in human resources, organizational development, and marketing.

Azurée has dedicated her career to creating high-performing, creative and innovative, and trusted and psychologically safe work environments with equal opportunities for all employees. Widely regarded as a subject matter expert, she often presents at conferences and events on inclusion-related topics.

As Global Director of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion for Fitch Group, Azurée designed and implemented the organization’s first diversity and inclusion strategy which included the ForwardPath Women’s Leadership Development Program and the “All of Us” global inclusion training module. Azurée spent over nine years as a Vice President in Citigroup’s Global Diversity and Talent Management department where she led teams responsible for succession planning, talent reviews, executive assessments, coaching/development, employee networking and flexible work initiatives. Azurée’s resume also includes positions within the marketing departments of Dun & Bradstreet and J.P. Morgan Chase.

Azurée earned her BA in Political Science, Sociology and Physics from the University of Richmond as a part of the Cigna Honors Program. She holds an MBA in Marketing, Management and Leadership from the Stern School of Business and a Masters in Organizational Development and Talent Management at NYU.

Azurée actively participates in multiple professional organizations which align with her passion for community service and efforts to empower underserved and underrepresented communities. She has been a member of the National Black MBA Association, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Organization Development Network, New York Chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Brooklyn Chapter of Jack and Jill, Incorporated. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, incorporated for over twenty years, and is invested in her graduate chapter of Delta Rho Omega in Brooklyn, NY.

Jyoti Rai, Chief Talent Officer – New York-Presbyterian

Jyoti Rai is senior vice president and chief talent officer at NewYork-Presbyterian. In this role, she is responsible for all key areas of talent management, including designing and overseeing the delivery of a consistent talent strategy and experience for NYP colleagues, creating the vision and driving the implementation of the future work design for the organization, while focusing on inclusion and NYP’s optimization of talent. She has oversight for Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Performance Management, Organization Effectiveness, Learning and Development, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, through which she supports the design and execution of important aspects of NYP’s people strategy.

Kristine Rea, Chief Talent Officer – ECP Group

Ms. Rea is Chief Talent Officer at ECP where she leads talent and leadership development internally for the firm as well as for portfolio company executive teams.

Prior to joining ECP in 2022, Ms. Rea worked at YSC, part of Accenture, in their private equity leadership strategy practice both in Hong Kong and in NYC. At YSC Ms. Rea led talent and leadership development for numerous global large cap and some mid cap private equity firms both internally as well as for their portfolio companies. Ms. Rea was also a member of the APAC private equity leadership team building out the APAC private equity business. Previously in Hong Kong, Ms. Rea was Head of Human Capital for a mid-market buyout firm leading internal and portfolio talent and leadership development. While in this role, she built out the Human Capital function for the firm. Earlier in her career Ms. Rea built and ran a private practice for 14 years, international in scope, providing executive coaching, team coaching, and psychotherapy for leaders and executives.

Ms. Rea received a B.A. in General Studies and an M.A. in Counselling from Providence.

Nathaniel Schiffer, Chief Executive Officer – The Christopher Group

Nathaniel (Nat) Schiffer has held virtually every job at The Christopher Group. Today he is TCG’s Chief Executive Officer. Nat has played a key role in the rebranding of TCG as an Agile HR & Business Solutions company that includes the launch of the firm’s Interim HR Leader and Consulting Divisions. Among his many accomplishments at TCG, he is most proud of TCG being recognized in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 by Forbes as one of the nation’s top executive search firms.

With over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Corporate Executive Services, and Executive Search. Nat has a keen understanding of business strategy and operations, organizational structure, and talent acquisition/assessment/development. This unique combination of experiences enables him to play a pivotal role in partnering with senior executives at Fortune 500 firms, start-ups, P/E Backed as well as private and closely held companies. Nathaniel specializes in all levels of HR search but frequently leads the firms most senior-level searches to Include CHRO, VP, and other levels with critical succession implications. He has recently completed searches across multiple industries and HR verticals with the likes of Phillips 66, Lamb Weston, Parker Hannifin, Air Products, Altria, SC Johnson, Delta Dental, VCA/ Mar’s Pet Care, Alcon/Novartis, Cal State Fullerton, and Acorn start-ups such as OYO Rooms.

Michelle Stuntz, President, Consulting & Advisory Services – ZRG Partners

Michelle Stuntz is President of ZRG’s Consulting and Advisory Services practice. She is a global business leader with extensive domestic and international experience spanning multiple industries and topics. Michelle brings a unique perspective to her position, having held leadership positions in Big Five Search, Big Four Consulting, as well as non-profit and international development organizations. She is a leader who is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, driving business outcomes, developing strong leaders who truly lead, and the success of working parents, especially mothers.

Prior to joining ZRG, Michelle was the North American Consulting Consumer Industry Leader for Korn Ferry. She stepped into the role to build an effective commercial team, develop relationships for cross-sell, and drive larger account development. Under her leadership, the industry was the fastest growing in the firm. Prior to Korn Ferry, Michelle spent eight years with Deloitte Consulting, most recently as a Senior Manager leading teams of over 100 employees and shaping large, transformation efforts with clients. Before consulting, Michelle worked in the non-profit space for many years including working with at-risk youth in inner city schools with AmeriCorps, non-profit development/fundraising, and working with communities in rural Zambia in the Peace Corps.

She holds a BA from The Ohio State University and an MPA from The LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Maggie van de Griend, Managing Director of Portfolio Talent – Warburg Pincus

Margreet (Maggie) van de Griend is based in New York, joined Warburg Pincus in 2019, and focuses on organization, talent, and leadership development for portfolio companies. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, Maggie was a Principal at Katzenbach Partners and an Organization Expert at McKinsey & Company. She founded Sokrates Partners – a small, globally operating consulting firm. Her consulting career has focused on questions of leadership, executive teaming, transformation, commercial effectiveness, and organization; she has advised the leaders of large global corporations across multiple industries (a.o. technology, health care, consumer goods, transportation/logistics, and financial services).

She holds a Drs (advanced academic) degree in Classical Languages and Culture from the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Jacqueline Welch, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer – The New York Times

Jacqueline M. Welch became executive vice president and chief human resources officer in January, 2021. In this role she leads The Times’s human resources team and oversees all aspects of talent acquisition, career development, organizational development, equitable compensation practices, performance enablement and diversity, equity and inclusion. She sits on the company’s executive committee and reports to the chief executive officer.

Ms. Welch joined The Times from Freddie Mac, where she was senior vice president, chief human resources officer and chief diversity officer since 2016. In this role, she led the Freddie Mac H.R. team and served as a trusted adviser to its board of directors and the executive team. She also had oversight responsibility for Freddie Mac’s corporate community engagement program and their 10 employee resource groups.

A seasoned corporate executive, Ms. Welch joined Freddie Mac with 20 years of experience in H.R. strategy and execution. She served as senior vice president for international human resources for Turner Broadcasting System from 2010 to 2013 and was senior vice president, talent management and diversity, from 2008 to 2010.

Prior to Turner, she worked for organizations such as WestRock, Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) and Willis Towers Watson (formerly Towers Perrin). She began her career in New York at Lord & Taylor as a merchant.

Ms. Welch earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from The New School’s Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment. She serves on the Boards of the Human Resources Policy Association and Buckman, a privately held, global, chemicals solutions company.

Christoph Wollersheim, Consultant – Egon Zehnder

Christoph Wollersheim, based in Washington, D.C., supports clients as the co-leader of the Data & Artificial Intelligence practice. He draws on extensive experience as an AI and data analytics executive leading impactful teams to help US Federal Government clients and companies drive cultural shifts and attract and retain data and AI talents and leaders.​

Before joining Egon Zehnder, Christoph led the Division for Advanced Analytics & Digital Solutions at Noblis in Washington, DC, where his team brought AI and Data Science capabilities to the US Federal Government. Prior to this, he was the Global Head of Data Analytics & Insights at Arcadis, where Christoph also served on the Boards of two of Arcadis’s AI subsidiaries (SEAMS and Arcadis Gen). Christoph was an Advanced Analytics Expert at McKinsey Co. and a Senior Lead Data Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton.​

Christoph earned a PhD in Economics from Muenster U and an MBA from Cologne U. Christoph holds the rank of Major (res) in the German Air Force and is the Deputy Chair of the Board of the German International School in Washington, D.C.