Julie Kanak

Managing Director

Julie Kanak serves as a Managing Director in the firm’s Chicago office, where she contributes expertise in global business, banking, and natural resources. She is the Leader of the Financial Services practice and is active in the Industrial, Life Sciences, Consumer and Retail, and Natural Resources practices, as well as being a key member of the Board, CEO and CFO practices.

Kanak has recruited board, general management, and financial executives for public, private equity-backed and family-owned enterprises. Her clients range from Fortune 500s to emerging companies. Her banking activity encompasses senior level placements in coverage/corporate finance, treasury, risk management, investment banking, and capital markets for the world’s leading financial institutions.

Prior to joining Diversified Search, Kanak spent four years with a leading global search firm and boutique global agribusiness firm. That work complemented her 26 years in banking and corporate finance, where she principally focused on agribusiness, food, and energy. The bulk of her global corporate and investment banking career was spent as North American head of AgriFoods at Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. Her career also includes more than 10 years as a global banker and senior executive with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, and State Bank of South Australia in New York and Chicago.