Allen Austin
Company Information
Leading Principals
Rob Andrews, Chairman & CEO
Liz Townsend, Sr. Partner Leadership Coaching and Culture Shaping
Edie Bartlett, Sr. Partner
Firm Overview
Allen Austin is a Houston-headquartered retained executive search and leadership advisory firm, founded in 1996, with partners managing client engagements from offices across North America and Europe. In 30 years of continuous operation, the firm has completed more than 4,000 retained engagements without abandoning a single assignment — a record that reflects a fundamental commitment to seeing every engagement through to a successful outcome.
The firm’s approach to executive search is governed by Foresight™, a proprietary evidence-based process developed and refined over three decades. Unlike conventional search, Foresight™ begins with a rigorous Organizational and Position Needs Analysis — defining culture, performance expectations, and measurable success criteria before a single candidate is sourced. The result is a 92% placement retention rate at the two-year mark, compared to a 55% industry average, and a 97% offer-to-acceptance ratio, compared to a 70% industry norm. Every placement above $250,000 in total compensation is backed by a full two-year guarantee.
Allen Austin’s capabilities extend beyond search to include leadership assessment through its proprietary VantagePoint™ platform, executive coaching, organizational culture and performance advisory, founder and board advisory, and interim and fractional leadership placement. These capabilities are designed as an integrated system that supports the full leadership lifecycle — from organizational health diagnostics to executive placement, onboarding, and long-term leadership development.
Every engagement is led by a senior partner from start to finish. There are no junior handoffs. Clients engage the firm for a single search and frequently return for broader leadership challenges that arise in the course of that search.
Rob Andrews, Chairman and CEO, founded Allen Austin after a career as an operating president with P&L responsibility for enterprises of up to $2.4 billion in revenue and 10,600 employees. He is the author of High-Performance Human Capital Leadership and has been published in several professional publications, including the National Association of Corporate Directors’ Directorship Magazine on board governance and leadership risk. He is currently completing doctoral work in organizational leadership at the University of Texas.
- Industry Focus
- Functional Expertise
- Areas of Service
Architecture
Cleantech
Consumer Goods & Services
Engineering & Construction
Financial Services
Food Industry
Government
HR/Diversity
Industrial
Life Sciences
Media
Non-Profit
Private Equity
Professional Services
Sports
Technology
Telecommunications
Venture Capital
C-Suite
Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer
Chief Human Resource Officer
Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Security Officer
Cybersecurity
DE&I
Human Resources
Managing Partner
President
Vice President
Board Services
Contingent Search
Culture Advisory
Culture Shaping
DE&I
Executive Coaching
Executive Search
Fractional Executive
Interim
Interim Executive
Leadership Consulting
Leadership Development
Organizational Health Index
Succession Planning
Talent Acquisition Strategy
Off-Limits Policy
2 years - we never recruit an executive we’ve placed
Average Time to Completion on Assignment
45 business days
Recently Completed Assignments
News Briefings
Allen Austin Appoints Partner
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has expanded with the addition of Nick McQuarry as a partner. “We are so excited to welcome Nick McQuarry back to the Allen Austin team as a partner,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post. “Nick’s career journey has come full circle—returning to the firm where it began, now with broader...
Allen Austin Fills HR Position for The Lebermuth Company
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has assisted in the recruitment of Adria Logan as director, human resources at The Lebermuth Company. The search was led by Liz Townsend and Edie Bartlett, who partnered closely with Lebermuth’s leadership team to identify a leader who will strengthen HR strategy and champion a high-performance, values-driven culture. “This placement comes...
Why Most Boards Underperform and Why 2026 is the Year to Fix It
Even the most capable boards can struggle to translate individual expertise into collective performance. If you spend enough time in boardrooms of any flavor, whether public, private, PE-backed, family-owned, or non-profit, you eventually notice a strange phenomenon, explained a recent report from Rob Andrews, founder and CEO of Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin. “Everyone is...
Allen Austin Recruits CHRO for Stress Engineering Services
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has helped to recruit Michelle Howison as the new chief human resources officer at Stress Engineering Services, Inc. The search was led by Edie Bartlett and Liz Townsend. Ms. Howison brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience, with a proven track record in M&A integration, organizational development, and building high-performing...
Clarity Over Charisma: How Great Leaders Truly Communicate
Effective leadership communication isn’t about eloquence, charisma, or having the loudest voice in the room—it’s about connection. The most impactful leaders understand that words are only a small part of the equation. True influence comes from clarity, empathy, and the ability to listen as much as you speak. When leaders shift their focus from how...
How Top CEOs Stay Connected to the Front Lines
The best CEOs understand that true leadership requires more than boardroom strategy — it demands a deep connection with the front lines. By staying closely attuned to the day-to-day realities of their employees, customers, and operations, top executives can make better decisions, inspire their teams, and adapt more quickly to challenges. In today’s fast-moving business...
