Spencer Stuart Appoints U.K. Managing Partner
July 15, 2021 – Spencer Stuart has appointed Shami Iqbal as U.K. managing partner. He succeeds Simon Fenton, who has served a three-year term as managing partner following his return to the U.K. after seven years based in Hong Kong from where he led the firm’s Asia-Pacific business.
“I am incredibly grateful to Simon for his enormous contribution to the U.K. business and for steering the firm through an unprecedented period,” said Hugh Thorneycroft, who leads Spencer Stuart’s regional operations in EMEA. “Over the past 18 months we have focused on U.K. leadership succession and we are delighted to appoint a successor as capable as Shami who will lead with great energy and judgment.”
Prior to taking up his role as U.K. managing partner, Mr. Iqbal has been leading the firm’s legal, compliance and government affairs practice in EMEA and chairing Spencer Stuart U.K.’s diversity equity and inclusion committee. Before his 15-year career in executive search and leadership consulting, he was a sports lawyer at a leading London law firm. “Mr. Iqbal brings a wealth of experience and proven capabilities to the role and is highly regarded across the Spencer Stuart partnership,” said the search firm.
“It is an incredibly exciting time to take the reins in London as we continue to support our clients with their leadership needs post the pandemic,” Mr. Iqbal said. “Expectations on leaders have never been higher, and I am delighted to be working with an incredibly talented UK team as we, and our clients, navigate an evolving commercial, environmental, social and governance landscape.”
Privately held since 1956, Spencer Stuart focuses on delivering knowledge, insight and results through the collaborative efforts of a team of search professionals — now spanning 56 offices, 30 countries and more than 50 practice specialties. Boards and leaders turn to Spencer Stuart to help address their leadership needs in areas such as senior-level executive search, board recruitment, board effectiveness, succession planning, in-depth senior management assessment and many other facets of organizational effectiveness.
New Board Member
Spencer Stuart recently added Wanda Felton, former vice chair and first vice president of the Export-Import Bank, as senior advisor to the firm’s board practice. As senior advisor, Ms. Felton will act as a key thought leader, advising Spencer Stuart’s North American board practice on expanding diversity capabilities and recruiting efforts as well as helping to connect the firm with the diverse governance community. Ms. Felton will help identify board-ready prospects from diverse backgrounds, expand the definition of what board-ready means today, and cultivate and create opportunities to expand Spencer Stuart’s network of diverse board candidates.
“Wanda’s experience, her wealth of knowledge, and her network of directors and executives will help us elevate our efforts to achieve best-in-class diversity, equity and inclusion recruiting practices that lead to better outcomes for our clients,” said Julie Hembrock Daum, leader of Spencer Stuart’s North American board practice.
Ms. Felton’s hire reinforces Spencer Stuart’s ongoing efforts to ensure that clients have unrivaled access to the best existing and potential director talent, and assist boards in increasing the diversity of their composition. Last year, women and people from underrepresented minority groups comprised more than 60 percent of the firm’s U.S. placements.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
