Stanton Chase Appoints New Private Equity Global Practice Leader

August 13, 2020 – Baltimore, MD-headquartered Stanton Chase named Mikael Stelander, managing partner of the firm’s Finnish office, as global practice leader for all private equity activities.

“Mikael will bring a fully updated and in-depth experience from servicing clients and the PE environment over the past 10 years,” said Flemming Riber, vice chair of practice groups. “He has been an active member in multiple PE associations and conferences offering our executive search consultancy as well as his competence in placing and evaluating execution power at C-level/boards in PE companies.”

Mr. Stelander recently headed the firm’s EMEA integration toward PE companies in Stanton Chase’s joint activities with NASDAQ board services offering specific evaluation, consultancy and executive search to professional board configurations in cooperation with NASDAQ. In his new role, Mr. Stelander will focus on the further integration of executive consultancy toward private equity.

With an extensive industry-based background, Mr. Stelander specializes in partnering with investors and C-level executives acting as an extension of their organization. His search portfolio includes projects for PE-owned firms across industry segments such as technology/software, manufacturing, engineering, consumer and energy. His background includes collaboration with PE, family offices, fund of funds as well as startups, mainly involved in buy-and-build projects. Mr. Stelander brings 20-plus years of experience as an managing partner at Stanton Chase and has held additional senior leadership roles for the firm in the past.

With offices in major cities around the world, Stanton Chase offers clients a global perspective while understanding local cultures and the challenges of moving products by sea, air, rail and trucking.

Recent Expansion at the Firm

Stanton Chase added former film director Shayne Lightner to its Los Angeles office as a director, with a focus on entertainment, media and digital. As director/producer, Mr. Lightner most recently wrote, directed and produced a detective comedy feature. Previously, he wrote and directed a pilot, three documentaries, and various shorts and corporate videos. Mr. Lightner has also been a managing director of global entertainment, media and technology practices for Korn Ferry International and Russell Reynolds Associates.

Stanton Chase named veteran HR executive Bill Brewer as the firm’s human resources practice leader in North America and a director in its Los Angeles office. As the regional HR specialization leader, Mr. Brewer consults with boards and CEOs on assessing and acquiring best-in-class human resources officers. He leads senior-level human resources searches including chief human resources officers, as well as other senior human capital and talent management leadership roles.

Stanton Chase named Lindsay Lautz as global supply chain sector leader for the supply chain, logistics and transportation practice group. He is currently a director in the firm’s Los Angeles office. “As an experienced search professional in a wide range of disciplines, Lindsay is perfectly suited for this role in the supply chain, logistics and transportation practice group,” said Juan Morales, global practice leader for the practice group and managing director for Stanton Chase’s Miami office.

Stanton Chase has named Julien Abou Khalil as partner and leader of the financial services practice covering the Middle East region. He is based out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he supports organizations in the Middle East with the recruitment of top financial executives, leadership growth management, and organizational culture.

Stanton Chase has named Eva Kingston as leader of financial services for its U.K. team. Ms. Kingston has been working in executive search and leadership consulting since 1995. Her experience covers cross-border retail banking and consumer finance, corporate and transaction banking, corporate functions, fintech, blockchain and impact investment.

Stanton Chase named Kristi Moe Hope, a director in its Atlanta office, as global sector leader for aerospace and defense. Ms. Hope has 25 years of executive leadership experience with broad-ranging international expertise in program management, strategic planning, customer relations, government relations and marketing.