Spencer Stuart Names Leader of the Global Technology, Media, Telecommunications & IT Services Practice

October 11, 2024 – Spencer Stuart has named Emanuela Aureli as leader the global technology, media, telecommunications & IT services practice. “I’m excited to announce my new role as partner and global practice leader, tech, media, telco & services practice at Spencer Stuart,” Ms. Aureli said in a LinkedIn post. “To my clients, candidates and colleagues: thank you for your trust, support and collaboration.”
Ms. Aureli has been with Spencer Stuart for 10 years. She is also a member of the board and CEO practices. Ms. Aureli has more than 20 years of experience in executive search and leadership development. She works with large corporations and private equity-backed organizations, focusing on European and global appointments at board and senior executive levels in software, IT services, financial technology and communications services.
Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Ms. Aureli was a senior client partner with Korn Ferry and a U.K. leader of its technology practice. She has experience recruiting board directors and C-level executives for organizations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
Ms. Aureli also worked for a boutique search firm in London, where she specialized in TMT searches. Before her career in search, she was based in North America and Japan with a Japanese-American trading company. She was responsible for business development for Southern Europe and for implementing marketing strategies across the EMEA region. Ms. Aureli is currently the chair of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) and has served as chair of its European and African council.
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. The firm helps boards and leaders 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 Chair
In June, Spencer Stuart elected Jordan Brugg as its next managing partner and Frank Birkel as its chair. With Ben Williams and David Daniel reaching the end of their second terms as managing partner and chair, respectively, the firm’s leadership succession committee led the planned leadership transition process. They will assumed their new roles in late July, working closely with Mr. Williams and Mr. Daniel through the transition period.
Mr. Brugg, who became the 10th managing partner in the firm’s 68-year history, has served as the global head of Spencer Stuart’s private equity business since 2020, leading market growth, innovation through new services and the deepening of client partnerships globally. He has also continued an active role with clients in the Industrial sector, having led the North American industrial practice for the prior seven years.
Related: Spencer Stuart Appoints U.K. Managing Partner
Mr. Brugg started at Spencer Stuart 22 years ago and has held a range of roles during his tenure at the firm, including experiences contributing to the development of new practices and service areas, such as CEO succession services.
“It’s an honor to be elected Spencer Stuart’s next managing partner, alongside the most talented and experienced colleagues in our profession,” said Mr. Brugg. “This is a transformational time, as the complexities of today’s world are having a profound effect on the role of leaders and leadership teams. I’m grateful and humbled to work with my colleagues to evolve our capabilities, expand on our role as a trusted advisor to clients and enhance our role in advising leaders who are navigating their most critical challenges and opportunities.”
Newly elected chair Mr. Birkel joined Spencer Stuart in 2007 as a member of the consumer practice following leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and Wrigley. He has served on the Spencer Stuart board of directors for the past nine years, serving as chair of the board’s compensation committee. He previously led the firm’s German business and served as co-leader of the EMEA region.
Related: Spencer Stuart Appoints Advisory Services Co-Leader
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media