Michelle Bonoan

Managing Director

Michelle Bonoan is a Managing Director at the Diversified Search Group through Koya Partners, which was acquired by Diversified Search in 2019. Previously, Bonoan served as a managing director at Diversified Search from 2011 to 2013.

With more than 20 years of experience as a search consultant, Bonoan has led executive searches across a wide range of industries and functions. As a specialist serving the education, nonprofit, and arts and culture sectors, she has successfully completed searches for CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, and Chief Financial Officers, as well as for key posts in fundraising and program management, among other positions.

Bonoan’s clients include organizations dedicated to education, social services, arts and culture, children and family services, the environment, and health-related issues, as well as prominent educational institutions, such as research and private universities, small liberal arts colleges, and independent college preparatory schools. The American Red Cross, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, California Institute of Technology, University of California, the Walt Disney Family Foundation, and the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West are just a few of her many marquee clients.

Before joining Koya, Bonoan was a Partner with Heidrick & Struggles, where she was a core member of the Education, Nonprofit and Social Enterprise practice. She began her career in executive search in 1996 with a boutique retained executive search firm based in Los Angeles serving education institutions, nonprofits, and national corporations, ultimately assuming the role of Vice President and Education & Nonprofit Practice Leader. Later, she worked for a national search firm where she opened the Southern California office dedicated to the education and nonprofit sectors.