Nexus Search Partners Places Chief Diversity Officer for RAND Corp.

July 14, 2023 – Nexus Search Partners, an executive search and advisory firm in Charlotte, NC, has placed Rekha Chiruvolu as chief diversity officer for the non-profit Rand Corp., the Santa Monica, CA based research group. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with RAND Corp. to locate its next chief diversity officer,” said the search firm. “Rekha Chiruvolu joins the global think tank with a robust background in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our team is grateful to have led such an impactful search and is confident that she will elevate RAND Corp.’s continued impact as a global research organization.”

Ms. Chiruvolu brings two decades of legal experience and DEI expertise to the role—most recently serving as the chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for global law firm Nixon Peabody LLP. Based in Washington, D.C., she will oversee all diversity initiatives at RAND.

“We’re excited to welcome Rekha to RAND as part of our commitment to ensuring best-in-class DEI principles across the organization,” said Jason Matheny, president and CEO of RAND Corp.. “Her experience will be invaluable as we look to ensure that diversity and inclusion are built into all aspects of RAND’s culture.”

Ms. Chiruvolu held various DEI roles at Nixon Peabody over the past decade. Among them, she worked with the recruiting, talent development, marketing, and business development teams to ensure that DEI was woven into all core areas of the organization and all personnel had equitable access to the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. She also helped launch a new client service to assist clients with their own DEI challenges and needs.

Strong Experience

As an attorney, Ms. Chiruvolu has spent her career advocating for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. Prior to Nixon Peabody, she was associate director of the Office of Career Services at the University of California Los Angeles School of Law. She earned her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New York University.

Ms. Chiruvolu said she has her sights set on immersing herself in RAND Corp.’s culture of thought leadership. “One of the things that interested me about this position with RAND is that it presented an opportunity to be part of an organization that is doing impactful work on some of the most important issues around the globe,” she said. “In addition to the internal DEI work at RAND, it was also an opportunity to impact the research side to help ensure that the important work RAND is doing reflects the diversity of our global communities and the people impacted by these issues”

Related: Talent Shortages Reach Highest Levels in 16 Years

“Whether I’m at a law firm or a global think tank, DEI initiatives boil down to one thing: people,” she said. “Such transferable skills are building trust, cultivating relationships, and understanding the nuances of the particular organization because no two organizations are the same—and there’s no blanket roadmap.”

A Renowned Research Group

Founded in 1946, the RAND Corp. works to improve policy and decision making through research and analysis. Its research is sponsored by U.S. government agencies; U.S. state and local governments; non-U.S. governments, agencies, and ministries; international organizations; colleges and universities; foundations; professional associations; other non-profit organizations; and industry. In addition, the organization says it relies on “philanthropic support to reach beyond the scope of client-sponsored work to tackle questions that may be too big, too complex, or too new for our clients to address.” For fiscal year 2022, Rand had revenues of $356.2 million, $62.1 million of which came from the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense or other national security agencies, $55.7 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and related agencies, $47.4 million from the U.S. Air Force, $41.8 million from the U.S. Army, and $13.6 million from non-U.S. government agencies and international NGOs, and others.


Nexus Search Partners Enters the Search Industry
For Thaddeus Jones, in-depth cultural assessments, transparency and accountability, diverse candidate slates, and SVP+ executive coaching are central to serving his clients. He started his firm wanting to fill the gaps that he saw in executive search when he himself was an HR leader.


Nexus Search Partners was launched last year. The firm’s executive search process is built on four comprehensive pillars: in-depth cultural assessments, transparency and accountability, diverse candidate slates, and SVP+ executive coaching. Nexus Search Partners places cross-functional executives in consumer products and services, energy, financial and professional services, life sciences, private equity, and technology. Founder Thaddeus Jones has spent nearly two decades leading human resources talent management teams for some of the world’s largest companies, including Amazon, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Target. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief talent officer for Red Ventures, a multi-billion dollar operating private equity company with more than 21 companies in its portfolio. It is also one of the largest digital media companies in the U.S.

Related: Nexus Search Partners Places VP of HR for Positec Tool Corp.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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