Odgers Berndtson Appoints Head of Diversity
July 29, 2021 – Odgers Berndtson has named Ryna Young as partner and head of diversity. “We are proud to be a leader in our industry as we appoint Ryna Young as head of diversity,” said Carl Lovas, chair and chief executive officer of Odgers Berndtson Canada. “We are deeply committed to creating an equitable client and colleague experience. Welcoming Ryna to the team is just one more step in ensuring we live our organizational values.” Ms. Young brings 25 years of experience in executive and interim executive search, leadership development, and succession management. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Having spent the majority of her career in recruitment, and navigating her own leadership journey, Ms. Young has witnessed firsthand how unconscious and systemic bias can affect the candidate and client experience, according to Odgers Berndtson.
Ms. Young has placed board members and other senior leaders within a number of functions, including operations, human resources, IT, sales, finance and accounting across the public and private sectors. Previously, she served as managing director at Optimum Talent. Before that, Ms. Young was a partner with LLH Knightsbridge. She has a degree in psychology from the University of Windsor and is an active volunteer in her community, serving at Foodbank Oakville, Kerr Street Mission and Scott Mission.
2021 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recruiting Report:
Building a Balanced and Diverse Workforce
Hunt Scanlon Media’s latest market intelligence recruiting report – this time focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – will be available later this fall! The nation’s top executive recruiters are resetting expectations and looking for new ways forward to build balanced and diverse workforce teams for their clients.
According to executive recruiters, DE&I should not just be a priority, but an integrated part of every company’s leadership goals. Some companies have even tied DE&I metrics to executive compensation. But it’s more than that.
Part of building strong, diverse hiring teams means asking yourself: “Who is my company culture going to attract – and how will it engage people who are here?” This question can be very difficult to answer if you assume everyone feels welcome already just because you do. Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within organizations is more than just the right ethical decision. “It is one of the best business decisions a company can make,” said Keri Gavin, a partner with Hanold Associates and leader of the search firm’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practice. Hanold Associates is a proud sponsor of this year’s report. This report will help organizations prioritize DE&I as a business imperative that drives greater competitiveness, innovation and business results. Get it now!
As head of diversity, Ms. Young will draw on her expertise to support the firm with two key strategic initiatives: She will act as an ambassador for DE&I in the delivery of its integrated advisory services and she will serve as an internal champion to ensure the firm is attracting and developing diverse talent. “I believe I have a responsibility to promote greater diversity and inclusion in our industry, which is why I was attracted to Odgers Berndtson,” said Ms. Young. “They understand that the work they do to identify and develop leaders has very real business and social implications, and they are fully committed to leading change. The fact that I get to help shape that journey is an honor and responsibility I embrace.”
Related: Search Firms Step Up Diversity Recruiting Initiatives
Odgers Berndtson delivers executive search, leadership assessment and development strategies to organizations globally. The firm’s 250-plus partners cover more than 50 sectors and operate out of 59 offices in 29 countries. The U.S. wing of the firm launched in 2011 and has been one of the fastest growing search firms in the Americas. It now ranks No. 12 on the Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters ranking. Odgers Berndtson currently has U.S. offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Recent Appointments
Odgers Berndtson recently named Lori Dyne as chief marketing officer. “Lori’s previous experience supporting the growth of executive search, interim executive and leadership advisory businesses, coupled with her keen understanding of how to leverage digital to deepen the client relationship, will play an important role in the ongoing growth of our business,” said Mr. Lovas. “Our clients are evolving at a tremendous pace and we need to innovate with them. Welcoming Lori to our team to help accelerate our digital journey in Canada is an important step in that process.”
Ms. Dyne brings to the firm a deep understanding of the value of an integrated approach to human capital management having previously held senior roles with national and global talent management firms. Most recently, she was regional vice president and national practice leader at Optimum Talent.
The firm also recently appointed Brad Beveridge as president of its Canadian business, responsible for leading the firm’s continued expansion and the growth of its executive search, executive interim and leadership advisory services. “Brad’s extensive experience as a search professional and business leader will be key to helping us continue to anticipate and support our client’s emerging leadership and talent needs,” said Mr. Lovas. “He brings a deep understanding of all aspects of our business and a strong track record of developing innovative solutions to the challenges facing organizations across the human capital spectrum. This is a very important step in our firm’s evolution.”
Related: Recruiters Up Their Game in Diversity
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
