Massey Henry Adds New Partner
March 6, 2025 – Toronto-based executive search firm Massey Henry recently expanded with the addition of Lisa Newey as partner. Ms. Newey, joined by newly appointed senior consultant Lee-An Palo and research associate Aarti Arora, brings deep sector expertise that further enhances the firm’s ability to address the leadership needs of financial services clients. “Massey Henry is experiencing significant growth, and with these hires, we have added six new members to our team over the past year,” said Michael Henry, founder and managing partner. “Lisa’s expertise in capital markets and asset management, combined with the complementary strengths of Lee-An, Aarti and our broader team, ensures we are well-equipped to address the unique leadership challenges that exist in today’s financial services landscape.”
Ms. Newey has more than 30 years of experience in the executive recruitment and financial services industries, including 15 years leading C-suite and senior leadership appointments across capital markets, asset management, investment banking, compliance and fintech. Most recently, she was a partner at DHR, where she led the Canadian financial services practice. Ms. Newey also founded her own search firm Newey & Co.
A capital markets veteran with 15 years of institutional equity experience at leading global investment dealers, followed by more than a dozen years in Canadian financial services recruitment, Ms. Newey brings a unique depth of knowledge to her role. Under her leadership, Newey & Co. earned a reputation as a trusted advisor to clients. The firm was recently featured on both Hunt Scanlon’s 2021 Financial Sixty list of leading recruitment firms in financial services and its broader 2021 ranking of top recruiters in Canada. Before transitioning to executive search, Ms. Newey spent 15 years in institutional equity research roles with UBS, Morgan Stanley and CIBC.
“Massey Henry’s collaborative client-first approach and industry expertise strongly align with my values and experience,” said Ms. Newey. “I am joining the firm at a very exciting stage of growth and look forward to partnering with clients to build impactful leadership teams capable of navigating the significant talent considerations shaping the industry.”
Related: Massey Henry Fills Chief Risk Officer Position for Peoples Group
Launched in 2021, Massey Henry is an executive search and board advisory firm specializing in financial services and the public sector. Michael Henry is the founder and managing partner of the firm. He said the firm’s aim was to set a new standard for executive recruiting with a streamlined, collaborative approach that enables organizations to recruit diverse top talent for urgent, transformational roles.
Serving the Financial Services Sector
Mr. Henry specializes in leadership recruitment for financial institutions, asset management, insurance, financial and risk management, and securities and non-securities regulation organizations across Canada. In addition to his core executive search work, Mr. Henry serves as an advisor to boards of directors on their overall composition, capabilities, and succession planning strategies at public sector and financial services institutions.
Executive Search 2025: Balancing AI Innovation with a Human Touch
The executive search industry is entering one of its most transformative eras, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and shifting client needs and expectations. In 2024, firms faced many challenges marked by economic uncertainty, evolving workforce dynamics, and increasing demand for specialized leadership roles. While internal talent mobility and cautious hiring strategies were dominant themes, the need for resilient, adaptable leaders capable of driving innovation has positioned the industry for a pivotal shift in 2025, recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media. Firms are stepping up to meet these demands by integrating cutting-edge technology into their workflows while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human expertise.
Technology, particularly AI, is reshaping how firms identify, evaluate, and connect with top talent. From automating routine tasks to uncovering deeper insights into market trends and candidate fit, these tools enhance efficiency and precision. However, as industry leaders emphasize, the human element remains central to success in this relationship-driven field. By leveraging AI to scale capabilities without sacrificing the personalized touch, executive search firms are not only redefining their processes but also reimagining their role as strategic talent advisors. As 2025 unfolds, the firms that can balance technological innovation with a deep understanding of leadership and culture will set the standard for the future of the industry.
Using artificial intelligence technology combined with sector expertise, Massey Henry provides candidate research and a diverse candidate pool, while using custom criteria to assess each candidate for fit. Clients have 24/7 access to their search process which is designed to enhance decision-making and reduce timelines by half.
The firm is backed by an experienced advisory board of top leaders, including George Cooke, board chair of OMERS; Bill Hatanaka, board chair of Ontario Health; Johanne Brossard, board director and former president and CEO of ING Direct Canada; Eric Wetlaufer, board director of Investment Management Corporation of Ontario and the TMX Group; Lynne Kilpatrick, board director and senior retail banking executive; and Sharon Pel, chair of the board of trustees for OPTrust.
Related: Massey Henry Recruits CFO for the Building Ontario Fund
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
