Raines International Expands to Buenos Aires
March 10, 2020 – New York-based Raines International recently opened a new office in Buenos Aires to serve as its Latin American headquarters and to strengthen the firm’s research and analytics team.
Duncan Piper, head of Buenos Aires operations, oversees the new office and is responsible for building Raines’ client service and search operations. Director Kare Hernandez, also based in the Buenos Aires office, leads Raines’ global research and technology function. The team focuses on executive search and leadership consulting in the industries of private equity, healthcare, industrial, technology and consumer goods.
Buoyed by rich natural resources, a highly literate population, a diversified industrial base and an export-oriented agricultural sector, the economy of Argentina is Latin America’s third-largest, and the second largest in South America. It has a “very high” rating on the Human Development Index and a relatively high GDP per capita, with a considerable internal market size and a growing share of the high-tech sector.
Dan Smith, CEO of Raines, said the firm identified Buenos Aires as an ideal location for an additional office and continues to see opportunity for expansion. “In less than six months, we have built a team of extremely accomplished professionals who share our values and commitment to excellence in leadership and executive search, and we are dedicated to strengthening our team there this year,” he said.
Founded in 1969, Raines International conducts global searches for C-suite executives and their direct reports. With expertise in all major industry sectors and functional areas, its client base includes privately held companies, publicly held corporations, leading private equity and venture capital firms and not-for-profits. The firm operates in New York City; Bentonville, AR; Boston; San Francisco; and Buenos Aires.
Recent Growth
Recently, Raines named John J. Keller to lead its innovation practice and assist clients in identifying and bringing innovative, transformational leaders to their organizations. A veteran recruiter and former journalist, Mr. Keller brings to Raines over two decades of search and advisory experience, recruiting transformational leaders to clients in the technology, telecommunications, digital/data and media industries.
Raines also announced that Matt Seiler, previously president of brand solutions with Dentsu Aegis Network, joined the firm in dual roles. Mr. Seiler serves as both managing director of the firm’s marketing and communications practice and as its first executive-in-residence. He splits his time between the firm’s Boston and New York City offices.
“Anyone who knows Matt knows he is an inspirational change agent who has lived his career on the leading edge of business innovation,” said Mr. Smith. “As ad agency strategist, he changed the trajectories of client companies by reinventing their advertising, marketing, and digital agendas. As president and CEO of the most respected global media agencies, Matt disrupted industry standards and inviolable business models while doubling firm revenues.”
Last year, Raines appointed Mr. Smith as its new president and CEO. Founder and current CEO Bruce R. Raines remains with the firm as senior managing director, focusing his full-time efforts on client and search management.
“The past year has been enormously rewarding for me on both personal and professional levels,” said Mr. Raines. “While I shall remain fully active going forward, these milestones suggest it is the right time to transition the leadership of our firm to the next generation.”
“Our firm brings a strong focus on succession planning in serving our clients as well as ourselves. I have worked closely with Dan in preparing him to assume the roles of president and CEO, which ensures a seamless transition within this important leadership position for our company,” Mr. Raines said. “Dan brings the required client focus and deep search expertise of our business to lead the firm into the future.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
