Stanton Chase Strengthens Its Industrial, Engineering and Construction Search Practices

December 18, 2017 – With an increasing global presence, Stanton Chase International has continued its expansion with the addition of Scott Clark as managing director in its industrial, engineering and construction practices.

He will work from the firm’s Chicago and Atlanta offices.

An experienced human resources executive, Mr. Clark has placed hundreds of senior executives in a variety of functions across these sectors. He has over 20 years of experience in executive search and talent acquisition leadership.

In 2011, Mr. Clark was recruited by what was then AMEC (and later became Amec Foster Wheeler and is now Wood Group) to lead the talent acquisition team for the environment and infrastructure division. He was promoted in 2013 to lead talent acquisition for all operating units in the Americas, which includes environment and infrastructure, power and process, oil & gas, and mining businesses from Canada to South America. His team was responsible for delivering more than 2,500 professional hires per year.

Over his career, Mr. Clark has executed or managed groups executing over 500 executive searches in numerous industries including engineering, EPC, construction, mining, oil and gas, and energy. He began his recruitment career at a small, multi-million boutique executive search firm in Atlanta, specializing in the environmental, engineering and construction industry.

Industrial Sector

Companies across the industrial sector have historically concentrated on making their physical assets the basis of competitive advantage. But leading industrial companies have increasingly come to recognize that the quality of their leadership talent is what ultimately makes the greatest competitive difference in a world of globalization, rapidly emerging markets, off-shoring, outsourcing and far-flung supply chains.

These companies, according to recruiters, want innovative global leaders who have the strategic, operating and financial skills required in this complex environment. They also want commercially-focused managers who can develop distinctive value-added solutions. Above all, many seek leaders who have the ability to make an immediate impact as well as a long-term contribution.

Recent Expansion at the Firm

Stanton Chase has appointed new leaders in several of practices since the start of the year. Just recently, Peter Deragon, the managing director of the Los Angeles office of the firm, was named global sector leader for the carriers, third party & contract logistics practice.

In August, the firm named Hans Nilsson as aviation & aerospace global sector leader. He will work out of the firm’s offices in Zurich and Miami. Mr. Nilsson has more than 25 years of industrial and management consulting experience in the aviation, aerospace, transportation and technology industries.

In July, it appointed Dale Zankl as the director of its natural resources and energy practice for the Middle East. Based out of the firm’s offices in Dubai, he consults with new and existing clients on their leadership challenges in regard to natural resources and energy in the Middle East.

In June, the firm named Steve Caliger as North America regional practice leader for the technology industry practice group. With over 21 years of executive search and consulting experience, Mr. Caliger helps develop leadership teams with investors and boards for C- and VP-level executives.

 Also in June, Bernard Layton, managing director of the Chicago office, was named practice leader for the firm’s global industrial practice group. Mr. Layton will oversee activity related to Stanton Chase’s global presence in the industrial sector. He has executed more than 750 searches across a wide range of senior and mid-management positions.

In May, Stanton Chase appointed Becky Heidesch as a director and North American diversity & inclusion practice leader. In this capacity, Ms. Heidesch works with all of the firm’s North American offices, focusing on senior level women and diverse executive placements. She brings vast experience from the sports, entertainment and higher education industries.

Cathy Logue, managing director of the firm’s Toronto office, was named leader of the CFO & financial executives practice group earlier this year. She has over 25 years of exec. and leadership search experience with a primary focus on senior leadership roles within the tech., fin. services/ fintech and media & comm. sectors.

In January, Panos Manolopoulos, managing partner in the firm’s Dubai office, was appointed head of Stanton Chase’s directors & CEO practice group. He is a lead shareholder in Stanton Chase Bucharest and has been a member of the firm since 2003. He has served as regional and global practice leader of the firm’s consumer products & services practice, vice chairman regions, and vice president of Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Tom Christensen, managing partner in Stanton Chase’s Oslo office, was also named to lead the firm’s consumer products & services industry practice group. Mr. Christensen has worked in the executive search industry for over 15 years. He established the Stanton Chase office in Norway in 2007 and has worked with local companies and large international corporations with a strong sales and marketing focus.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media