Leathwaite Names Co-Leader of Global HR Practice
May 16, 2022 – London-based executive search firm Leathwaite has recently expanded with the addition of Chris Smith. Based in London, he will co-lead Leathwaite’s global HR practice, while also steering and accelerating the firm’s strategy of ongoing diversification outside its core markets of financial & professional services. “We are delighted to welcome Chris to Leathwaite,” said Tom Pemberton, co-head of U.K. and Ireland for Leathwaite . The CHRO and HR leadership community have been critical partners to Leathwaite since our inception, and we look forward to Chris expanding & enhancing those bonds.”
“Chris will be a wonderful addition to the Leathwaite team,” said Andrew Wallace, Leathwaite’s managing partner. “We have experienced rapid growth in recent years across several markets in commerce and industry and look forward to Chris driving that expansion in its next phase.”
Mr. Smith has extensive global search and advisory experience across HR, human capital, and the corporate officers landscape, with a track record garnered in both leading global and boutique executive search and consulting firms. “With human capital at the forefront of corporate strategy, never more so than in response to the global pandemic, Chris will continue to be a key partner to business leaders and CHROs seeking to ensure they have the very best talent at the top of their organizations,” Leathwaite said.
Mr. Smith was previously a senior client partner & U.K. practice leader, global CHRO/ HR practice with Korn Ferry. In this role, he was responsible for search and assessment activities for the senior HR community across the U.K. and international as well as representing Korn Ferry’s full advisory capabilities to our clients internationally. Before that, he was a partner with Longbottom, where he led executive search and strategic advisory engagements (typically M&A identification) globally within the human capital, HR, talent and leadership consulting markets.
In his new role, Mr. Smith will take a leadership role in steering Leathwaite’s growth in a number of key industries. Leathwaite sees significant ongoing opportunity and demand to support clients across commerce & industry, which Mr. Smith will drive as a sector.
Leathwaite is an executive search and human capital specialist firm, delivering an interconnected range of executive search, executive interim and data and insight services. Established in 1999, the firm has developed key international client partnerships across a range of industry sectors. Leathwaite has a network of international offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Hong Kong and Zurich.
Expansion in New York
Leathwaite also added Gus de Camargo to its New York team. He is responsible for leading and expanding the firm’s technology offering in North America, driving revenue and helping deliver talent to corporate functions.
Mr. de Camargo comes to Leathwaite with 20-plus years of experience managing client relationships in executive recruitment. He has experience working in management consulting environments, leading teams, and operating in senior leadership roles. Previously, he was the leader of Korn Ferry’s North American technology practice for the firm’s professional search business segment. In that role, he was focused on providing support and thought leadership to a highly specialized team executing technology and digital projects across a wide range of sectors/markets (financial services, consumer, industrial, high tech, life sciences/health care). That included responsibility for the firm’s overall North American practice through market expertise.
“Leathwaite continues to grow and expand with an emphasis on the U.S. market,” said Paul Groce, head of Americas for Leathwaite. “Our clients continue to be incredibly receptive to our expanding capabilities as demand for delivery excellence continues to be the top need in the market.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
