Lois L. Lindauer Names Chief Operating Officer
June 24, 2016 – Executive search firm Lois L. Lindauer Searches (LLLS) has appointed Deb Taft as its chief operating officer. With over 20 years of senior level development experience, Ms. Taft is widely known throughout the profession as a strategic visionary and creative innovator. She will play a key leadership role at LLLS, reporting directly to CEO Lois L. Lindauer. She will contribute her business and mentoring skills to the achievement of the firm’s long term goals, one of which is to continue its expansion into new markets across the country.
“Deb Taft shares our values and brings considerable expertise to our executive team. Her strategic leadership, business acumen, and senior level development experience will enhance the firm’s already-exceptional levels of client and candidate service,” said Ms. Lindauer. “She comes to our firm at a time of significant growth in development and advancement search. She brings over 20 years of executive and senior level development and marketing experience along with an impeccable reputation as a true leader and visionary. We are delighted to welcome Deb to our executive team.”
Prior to joining LLLS, Ms. Taft served as senior executive vice president and managing director for Grenzebach Glier and Associates, a consultancy for a range of global non-profits. She also served as chief development officer and interim chief strategy officer for Girl Scouts of the USA, where she led the formation of a new national executive team and an historic $1 billion fundraising campaign.
“I am delighted to work with Lois and our talented team on behalf of so many premier client institutions across the educational, healthcare, arts & culture, and voluntary sectors,” said Ms. Taft. “Non-profits have grown at an explosive rate, and recruiting top fundraising talent is a serious challenge. Building a strong and sustained talent pipeline for our clients – and increasing awareness of fundraising as a compelling career choice – will be high priorities in the years to come.”
Lois L. Lindauer Searches is a Boston-based national executive search firm serving the development / advancement profession. The firm serves the education, healthcare, science, arts & culture, advocacy and mission-driven non-profit sectors. LLCC specializes in placing chief development officers and building their teams.
According to recruiters, chief development officers are in high demand as fundraising prowess and having an ability to drive growth is becoming an essential part of the skills required of well-run non-profit and charitable enterprises. A recent search on LinkedIn of the title generated more than 140,000 results.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media