Odgers Berndtson Awarded Epilepsy Foundation CEO Search
January 14, 2020 – Odgers Berndtson has been enlisted to conduct a national search for the president and CEO for the Epilepsy Foundation. The assignment will be led by partners Maureen Ryan and Derek Wilkinson.
Philip M. Gattone stepped down from the Epilepsy Foundation’s top job at the end of last year. He leaves the organization with a strong leadership team and board of directors who are ready to finalize and implement the foundation’s new 2025 strategic plan.
“We are honored to partner with the Epilepsy Foundation board for their CEO search and have committed our best resources possible for a successful outcome,” said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson U.S.
“It is a critical time for the Epilepsy Foundation and our community as we put the brain front-and-center to fuel awareness and build upon our nationwide network of partners to optimize care, advocacy, research and education in the fight to end epilepsy,” said Bradley P. Boyer, incoming chair of the board of directors. “As we move our new strategic plan forward, we are looking for a visionary leader who understands and embraces the significance of our mission, can help mobilize action together and expand our impact, and who can fortify our values of passion, commitment to excellence, leadership, partnership, diversity, inclusiveness and integrity.”
“Odgers Berndtson has decades of experience attracting highly regarded, nationally and internationally recognized leaders who effect positive change and growth into mission-focused organizations,” the Epilepsy Foundation said in a statement.
With a network of nearly 50 partners throughout the U.S., the Epilepsy Foundation is leading the fight to end epilepsy. The foundation connects people to treatment, support and resources; leads advocacy efforts; funds innovative research and the training of specialists; and educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation has shone a light on epilepsy to promote awareness and understanding, and to advocate for laws that matter to people with epilepsy, while also funding $68.7 million for epilepsy research and supporting 3,091 epilepsy investigators and specialists in their early careers.
Veteran Recruiters
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 under the stewardship of Mr. Potter, has become one of the fastest growing search firms in the Americas. Odgers Berndtson currently has U.S. offices in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Wilkinson is a partner and leads Odgers Berndtson’s Washington, D.C. office. He is both head of the firm’s U.S. public, not-for-profit and education practices and global co-head of the international development practice. He has over 20 years of executive search experience with a particular focus on aiding large organizations in managing leadership talent, and extensive experience working with organizations of all sizes to attract and retain leaders from the board level to the executive suite to general management and specialized functional areas. Mr. Wilkinson has expertise in organizational dynamics and manages multi-layered relationships within the international and domestic public sector, the not-for-profit community, and educational institutions.
Ms. Ryan is a partner in the firm’s healthcare and academic services practice as well as its board and CEO practices. She is based in the Washington, D.C., office. As a former international health system executive and experienced talent consultant, she works with voluntary boards and executive leadership teams to create talent strategies that align with their organization’s business plans.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
