Russell Reynolds Associates Leads Chief Technology Officer Search for The Rockefeller Foundation

April 13, 2021 – Russell Reynolds Associates has been called in by The Rockefeller Foundation to lead its search for a new chief technology officer. The search firm is seeking candidates with a professional record of accomplishment that reflects significant strategic partnership with and contribution to the business, including demonstrated leadership in large, complex, multi-divisional global settings.

Reporting to the chief operating officer, the CTO leads the foundation’s global technology and cybersecurity strategy and plays a critical leadership role in developing, planning, and implementing the IT and data management strategy. According to Russell Reynolds, the CTO partners with the foundation’s senior leadership team, and internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement a strategy that meets the foundation’s vision and goals. They will lead technology strategy that advances pandemic planning and global power sector transformation. The CTO will be expected to manage a team that focuses on maintaining well-designed information architectures, systems and cybersecurity. Based in New York, the chief technology officer will be the head of all technology and play a critical leadership role in developing, planning, and implementing the IT strategy for the Rockefeller Foundation.

Russell Reynolds Associates is looking for candidates with a minimum of 15 years’ experience as a CTO, or similar role, for a global foundation or related industry. They should have deep knowledge of energy and health fields, international work experience preferred. Candidates should also have a professional record of accomplishment that reflects significant strategic partnership with and contribution to the business, including demonstrated leadership in large, complex, multi-divisional global settings.

Qualifications and Competencies

The winning candidate should demonstrate assertiveness and effectiveness in presenting their ideas to a variety of internal and external audiences and for multiple and diverse purposes. The individual must possess proven strong communication skills, ability to act as an ambassador of the IT team at internal and external stakeholder meetings. He or she should have the skills to manage a team of IT staff and approaches managing people as one that employs teambuilding, skill building and overall staff development and engagement. In addition, the incoming executive must be committed to the mission of the foundation, to inclusion, equity and diversity in every aspect of their work, and to challenging conventional wisdom through evidence, reason, and amplifying dissenting, unconventional and marginalized voices.

The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission—unchanged since 1913—is to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today the foundation advances new frontiers of science, data, policy and innovation to solve global challenges related to health, food, power, and economic mobility. As a science-driven philanthropy focused on building collaborative relationships with partners and grantees. The Rockefeller Foundation seeks to inspire and foster largescale human impact that promotes the well-being of humanity by identifying and accelerating breakthrough solutions, ideas and conversations.

Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory and search firm. Its 425-plus consultants in 46 offices work with public, private and non-profit organizations across all industries and regions. It is ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media as the third largest search firm in the Americas.

Recruiting CTOs

An assortment of executive search firms has placed CTOs in recent months. Here’s a look at a few from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

Renovata & Company has recruited Mugur Tolea as chief technology officer for Blue Foundry Bank, which specializes in “craft banking” for consumers and small businesses. “Mugur brings more than 30 years of industry, technical and leadership experience to his new role, and he knows how to operate at the pace of a small- to medium-sized company,” said Mannie Gill, partner at Renovata & Company. “He will develop a technical and product vision and strategy that focuses on mid- to longer-term needs for the company—ensuring alignment with the bank’s overall business objectives.” Mr. Tolea was previously vice president of technology, search, and discoverability for Walmart eCommerce.

San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has placed Atish Ghosh as the chief technology officer for Cority Software in Toronto. He replaces the retiring CTO, Stan Marsden, who worked for Cority for 28 years. Alex Bossetta led the assignment. Mr. Ghosh brings over 20 years of experience in product engineering expertise in B2B cloud-based software, products, and services to Cority. He joins the company from Neustar.

ChampionScott Partners, which specializes in senior-level appointments for technology and technology-enabled companies, recently assisted in the placement of Corey Bodzin as chief technology officer of deepwatch. Mr. Bodzin is a proven leader with over 25 years of experience in building teams, solutions and products in the cybersecurity industry. He most recently served as head of product for ExtraHop.