Signium Elects New Board of Directors
March 13, 2025 – Executive search consortium Signium has announced the election of its 2025+ board of directors: Annelize van Rensburg, director of executive search in Johannesburg, South Africa was re-elected as chair. Felipa Xara-Brasil, managing partner in Lisbon, Portugal was elected as vice chair.
“I am privileged to serve a second term on the board and honored for the trust my fellow board members have placed in me as chair,” said Ms. van Rensburg. “As Signium continues on a path of growth, we are optimistic about the future. In a time of constant and rapid change, the human touch is vital for great leadership to make a positive difference that is felt at all levels. Our goal remains to deliver exceptional executive search and leadership advisory services to our clients, and together we will navigate a future where society can thrive.”
Ms. van Rensburg a founding member of Signium Africa. Her experience in search and selection covers all levels of senior and executive management. Ms. van Rensburg’s industry experience spans a variety of sectors with, but not exclusive, focus on consumer and FMCG, agriculture, ICT, academia, as well as environmental, tourism and hospitality. In addition to the local and international private sector, she also services the South African public and parastatal sector. Ms. van Rensburg covers South Africa nationally as well as the sub-Saharan region of the African continent and as such executed in most east African countries.
“I firmly believe that the integrated talent solutions we offer to clients represents the future of search and talent management and will greatly benefit existing and future clients,” Ms. van Rensburg said.
With over 30 years of experience, including more than two decades in executive search, leadership advisory, and board consulting, Ms. Xara-Brasil is a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and C-suite leaders. She has deep expertise in leadership assessment, executive search, and compensation benchmarking, guiding organizations through complex governance challenges.
“In an era of turbulence and complexity, we challenge our clients to lead boldly – driving transformation through disruptive leadership,” said Ms. Xara-Brasil. “We push them to embrace agility and intellectual bravery, making decisive moves that inspire, develop, and engage across generations. Grounded in purpose, we turn uncertainty into competitive advantage, maximizing impact for teams and long-term value for shareholders.”
New Additions
The board also welcomed Jiyeon Kim, managing partner in Seoul, South Korea; and Martin GP Bernard, executive search partner in Brussels, Belgium. Each of the four recently elected directors will serve three-year terms. They join returning director Johannes Eng, partner in Gothenburg, Sweden. Johannes joined the board in 2023 and has one-year remaining on his three-year term.
Related: Signium Opens Office in Dubai
Ms. Kim mainly focuses on the executive search for industrial, consumer products and professional service sectors across various functions. Her main industrial clients are in manufacturing, automobiles, chemical, bioscience, and renewable energy while she also works with management consulting and law firms.
has extensive consulting and international experience across Europe and Latin America. Since 2009, he has specialized in retained executive search with a focus on industry, sustainability, and general management roles.
Mr. Bernard has extensive consulting and international experience across Europe and Latin America. Since 2009, he has specialized in retained executive search with a focus on industry, sustainability, and general management roles. Mr. Bernard currently co-leads SIGNIUM’s global industrial practice and is a member of the Guberna Sounding Board Committee for Sustainability.
Mr. Eng is based in Gothenburg and executes assignments covering several business sectors and is active in the life science and financial services practices. He has more than 15 years of experience from staff leading positions and as a board member. Mr. Eng has a wide experience in business development with international clients and has been working with start-ups as well as entering new markets with premium brands.
“With decades of cross-industry experience in executive search and leadership advisory, the directors met in Paris in late February to develop their strategic priorities and thee-year plan,” the consortium said. “Under the new board, Signium will focus on growing the network through new member engagement, promoting cross-border collaboration between partner firms, and reinforcing a culture of mutual trust among global colleagues.”
Signium has 38 offices in 30 countries serving clients in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions. The firm delivers talent acquisition and management solutions for global companies across industry sectors, including consumer goods, financial services, technology, industrial, life sciences, and professional services.
Related: Signium Expands in France
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
