Heidrick & Struggles Appoints Leader of On-Demand Talent
February 7, 2024 – Executive search, leadership consulting, and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has named Sunny Ackerman as global managing partner, On-Demand Talent, effective February 12. In this role, Ms. Ackerman will lead on-demand talent solutions across all Heidrick & Struggles globally, which is inclusive of Business Talent Group (BTG) and Atreus. “High-end independent talent solutions are increasingly being implemented to bridge leadership gaps within organizations during this rapidly evolving business landscape,” said Dan Ryan, partner in the Heidrick & Struggles New York office and executive sponsor, On-Demand Talent. “With over 25 years in the industry, Sunny is a recognized leader with hands-on experience and market perspective on the growing segment that is on-demand talent.”
“We are excited to welcome Sunny to the firm at such a pivotal time,” said Tom Murray, global managing partner of executive search. “With her expertise in technology, professional services, and human capital solutions, we are confident that she will elevate the readiness of this vital aspect of our business, meeting the strategic capabilities our clients demand.” Mr. Murray will assume the role of president, Heidrick & Struggles, effective March 4, 2024.
A visionary leader with experience scaling workforce solutions, Ms. Ackerman comes to Heidrick & Struggles after serving as president, Americas of SThree, a global talent partner specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She ran SThree’s second largest territory, generating $300 million-plus in annual revenue. Ms. Ackerman has also dedicated a significant part of her career to furthering the interests of women in the workplace and creating career pipelines for underrepresented groups. Additionally, she sits on the board of directors at TechServe Alliance, and the leadership council at the Women Business Collaborative.
Prior to SThree, Ms. Ackerman served as president, Americas at Frank Recruitment Group. She also spent over 13 years at ManpowerGroup, most recently serving as senior vice president and general manager of North America.
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“We are in a transformational moment that demands agility and flexibility from organizations around the world,” said Ms. Ackerman. “Heidrick & Struggles has a proven track record of world-class client service and has solidified its market-leading position in this space with the addition of on-demand talent solutions. I look forward to working alongside the team to drive continued revenue growth and evolve the talent landscape as we enable clients to further achieve their business goals.”
Newly Appointed CEO and President
Heidrick recently announced that president and CEO Krishnan Rajagopalan has decided to retire, after more than 23 years with the firm. Following a planned succession process, the board has appointed Thomas L. Monahan to succeed Mr. Rajagopalan as CEO and member of the board, effective March 4. Mr. Monahan currently serves as managing partner of Norton Street Holdings and was previously president and CEO of DeVry University. Mr. Rajagopalan will step down, effective March 4, 2024, and will retire from the firm as of April 1, 2024, after which he will continue to serve as an advisor.
“The board of directors, including Krishnan, have thoughtfully and deliberately developed this succession plan, and we are confident these leadership announcements position Heidrick & Struggles for continued success well into the future,” said Adam Warby, chairman of the board of Heidrick & Struggles. “Tom Monahan is a proven and innovative executive with a deep passion for the leadership arena and a unique view into what matters – and what works – when driving corporate performance. Tom’s decades of experience in growing technology-enabled services firms focused on delivering C-suite advice makes him the right person to build on our strengths in leadership advisory and to unlock transformative growth through our strategy of innovative diversification.
Heidrick also announced that Mr. Murray, global managing partner of Executive Search, will become president, reporting to Mr. Monahan, effective March 4. In addition to continuing to lead Executive Search, he will have operational responsibility for On-Demand Talent, Heidrick Consulting and Go-to-Market in his new role. Based in Heidrick’ Boston office, Mr. Murray is a member of the global management committee and is responsible for leading the firm’s global executive search business and client operations.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
