Focus Search Partners Names Technology Practice Partner

April 11, 2017 – Focus Search Partners, the executive search division of talent solutions provider Vaco, has named Steve Finder as managing partner of its global technology and financial officers practice. Based in San Francisco, he will lead a team of consultants and add new market sectors, including additional depth in enterprise software, space/frontier technology and cybersecurity.

Mr. Finder has more than 20 years of experience in matching high-performing executives with leading technology companies, ranging from venture capital and private equity-backed portfolio companies to publicly held organizations. He has expertise in a wide array of executive functional positions, including finance, sales, marketing, engineering, general operations, human resources, CEO and board roles.

Mr. Finder joins Focus Search Partners with more than 300 executive searches under his belt, both during his time as a corporate executive at organizations like Apple, SpaceX, PIMCO and Heidrick & Struggles, and as the co-founder of Ferguson Partners, an executive search firm with locations in San Francisco and Boston. Most recently, Mr. Finder built the technology practice for the Americas region at executive search firm Allegis Partners.

“Focus Search Partners is poised for another year of powerful growth,” said Paul Frankenberg, founder and managing partner. “With deep experience in our industry verticals, our team is focused on delivering exceptional outcomes and service to our clients.” He said the firm was “aggressively expanding” with a “tight filter” on recruiting exceptional people and search partners. “Steve fits perfectly and his clients and candidates speak highly of their experience with him. His professionalism and knowledge in the technology sector will be of great benefit to our firm and to our clients.”

“Joining a mid-size firm as nimble as Focus Search Partners with the strong resources of its private equity parent company is extremely exciting,” Mr. Finer said, adding that he can now enjoy the flexibility of a boutique search firm, the reach of a mid-sized one and the resources of a large player. “I look forward to helping expand our technology search business by leveraging my many years of experience in enterprise software, space/frontier technology, cybersecurity and consumer product companies.”

Expansion Plans Continue

The addition of Mr. Finder follows a year of West Coast expansion at the firm. Focus Search Partners acquired California-based firm Charlson Partners last year to expand into the technology space. Founder Adam Charlson has recruited senior leaders for a wide variety of companies in the space, including Adobe Systems, Cisco, Cornerstone OnDemand, Convergys, DataPipe, Experian, FICO, Google, HP, Infor Global Solutions, Informatica, JDA Software, Microsoft, PayPal, Progress Software, Salesforce.com, SAP, Sitel, TeleTech, and Verint, among others.

Founded in 2001, Focus Search Partners was acquired in 2014 to become the executive search division of Vaco, a consulting and strategic solutions firm. The company specializes in matching high caliber board members, executives and senior-level individuals with leading technology and healthcare services organizations across the U.S.

Vaco has experience a wave of growth recently with four acquisitions over the last 18 months, reflecting the company’s clients’ increasing need for it’s managed services, business process and technology outsourcing operations. At the end the year, Vaco acquired Pivot Point Consulting based in Seattle and boutique executive search firm Greythorn in Bellevue, WA. The new acquisitions bring together more than 50 employees and 250 consultants across the nation.

Pivot Point Consulting, a healthcare IT consulting firm that provides implementation, staff augmentation and advisory services for healthcare provider organizations, has employees in 30 states and provides services to over 40 healthcare organizations, including large multi-hospital networks, academic institutions, pediatric hospitals and local community clinics.

Greythorn specializes in placing top executives within the healthcare IT sector. In addition to executive search, the firm provides various talent management services, including training; leadership support; strategy and planning; project management; and staff engagement and retention solutions.

Vaco also opened its second New Jersey location in Saddle Brook. Search industry veteran Leon Downes joined the firm from Solomon Page to lead the office as managing director. He has over 15 years of recruiting experience across accounting, finance, operations and administration.

Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media

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