Ferguson Partners Names President
May 3, 2024 – Chicago-based Ferguson Partners has appointed Graham R. Beatty as president. “As president, Graham is the ideal candidate given his deep expertise in the real assets industry, unwavering commitment to exceptional client service, and great respect by clients and colleagues alike. We are thrilled to have him on board,” said William J. Ferguson, co-chairman and CEO of the firm. “With a track record of success and unique understanding of today’s complex market, Graham is fully prepared to lead our company into the future by building upon Ferguson’s current strengths and further expanding our proven talent management solutions.”
As president, Mr. Beatty will lead the growth of Ferguson’s global executive recruitment practice and help build out both the firm’s international platform and its North American business. He will also stay actively involved in client matters along with developing strategic and operational responsibilities. He will report directly to Mr. Ferguson regarding the firm’s advisory businesses and to the board on enterprise matters. Mr. Beatty will be based in the firm’s New York office, and will frequent the Chicago headquarters as well as other Ferguson office locations across the globe.
Mr. Beatty is a leader in the executive search and leadership assessment profession and brings more than 20 years of experience to his new role. Throughout his career, he has overseen C-suite executive search advisory and board director recruitment for numerous organizations across the real estate asset class, including investment management platforms, private equity backed portfolio companies, and real estate owners, operators, and developers.
Most recently, Mr. Beatty was a partner with Heidrick & Struggles International where he served as the Americas real estate sector leader since 2015 and helped build the global practice. He began his career in the financial services sector on the emerging markets fixed income desk at UBS, and has held positions with global executive search firms throughout his career, including at Russell Reynolds Associates.
“I’m excited to join the Ferguson team and help grow the platform at this critical juncture,” said Mr. Beatty. “Ferguson has fostered a well-deserved reputation as the premier real assets talent management firm, and I’ve long admired what the company has accomplished over the last four decades. Our philosophy on long-term expansion and belief in delivering superior client services align perfectly and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues to help deepen the breadth of the existing Ferguson platform.”
Founded in Chicago in 1989 by Mr. Ferguson and Michael Herzberg, Ferguson Partners is a global professional services firm specializing in executive and director recruitment, as well as leadership, compensation and management consulting. The firm is dedicated to serving the human capital and organizational consulting needs of the real estate, hospitality and leisure, infrastructure, engineering and construction, and healthcare services sectors.
In addition to its Chicago headquarters, the firm has offices in Charlotte, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. Its recruitment practice conducts more than 200 searches globally each year for C-suite executives, other senior business leaders, and board of director positions. Ferguson Partners also offers a full range of leadership services through our leadership consulting practice including CEO and senior executive succession planning, leadership assessment, coaching and team effectiveness.
Leadership Appointments Rising at Recruiting Firms
Top leadership appointments, of men and women, have been gaining traction at executive search firms over the past year. Here’s a look at several examples taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
New York City-based executive search firm Heyman Associates has appointed Jessamyn Katz as its new chief executive officer. Founder and CEO Bill Heyman, who established the firm in 1989, will be retiring at the end of the year. Ms. Katz has served as president since 2019. Mr. Heyman will remain as an advisor to the firm. “My life’s joy for the last 35 years has been building relationships and truly getting to know the incredible talent, leaders, and organizations we have served,” said Mr. Heyman. “Our firm has been responsible for filling top communications and corporate affairs roles for some of the world’s leading brands, corporations, foundations, academic institutions, and professional associations.”
Odgers Berndtson has named Kennon Kincaid as its new CEO for its U.S. business, succeeding Steve Potter, who has held the position for the past 12 years. Mr. Potter, who will remain an active board member, has grown the firm to become No. 12 on the Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters ranking in the U.S. “He has built a strong team, and a particular achievement has been hiring and developing Kennon as his successor,” Odgers Berndtson said. “They have worked closely together for five years as COO and CEO preparing for this transition.” Mr. Kincaid has spent the past four years as the Odgers Berndtson U.S. chief operating officer, where he oversaw its people, processes, and operations.
Executive search firm Gilman Partners has appointed Angel Beets as chief executive officer and Marci Pfeifer as chief operating officer. Tom Gilman, who has served as CEO since purchasing the firm in 2004, will take the role of chairman. “I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last 19 years,” said Mr. Gilman. “We have a great team that is known and well-respected in the business community, and consistently acts in our clients’ best interests to strengthen leadership teams and elevate the talent in our communities. I’m most proud of the client and community relationships we have built and our role as a trusted confidant on talent related matters. It’s time to let Angel and Marci lead us to the next level.”
Related: Search Firms Bolster Their Own C-Suites to Broaden Push Into Talent Ecosystem
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
