The Energists Expands to Dallas

February 2, 2024 – Houston, TX-based executive search firm The Energists recently opened a new office in Dallas, TX, and named Elizabeth Linhart as a partner. “I am thrilled to establish a physical presence in Dallas, bringing the firm closer to its mid-continent client base,” said Jon Hill, managing partner at The Energists. “Elizabeth’s addition to the team represents a substantial investment, bringing considerable experience that enhances our capability both domestically and internationally. Importantly, Elizabeth aligns with our core values of collaboration, inclusion, and integrity.”

“This move comes at a timely moment, responding to strong post-COVID customer demand for support in achieving their human capital objectives,” Mr. Hill said. “Collaborating with our headquarters team in Houston, Elizabeth deepens our regional knowledge, strengthens relationships within the PE community, and expands the firm’s functional expertise to include general counsel positions, all across our global client base.”

Originally from Houston, Elizabeth began her career as a lawyer in the corporate world and has spent 20 years working in Dallas. She joins The Energists from Heidrick & Struggles, where she held the role of Principal. Before that, she worked as a Principal at Korn Ferry, transitioning from the boutique space.

“This move follows the expectation that the post-COVID increase in business will continue, fueled largely by energy transition, infrastructure resiliency, and energy security objectives,” the search firm said. “Ongoing and anticipated investment volumes remain significant, and The Energists continues to collaborate with companies, agencies, and other bodies across the value chain to align talent needs with organizational objectives.”

While investment in, and media coverage of, new and renewable energy technologies continues to build, The Energists’ Dallas office also supports search and consulting services for our traditional energy industry clients.

Ms. Linhart will now lead business development efforts in the region while supporting The Energists’ existing client base there and elsewhere. “The Energists has built a strong reputation within the energy domain. I am excited to return to the boutique space. It has been a whirlwind since joining last year, with several new clients and important mandates, all kicking off in the first week. I look forward to continuing to engage with both current and future clients as we consolidate our track record across infrastructure and energy markets globally, for a rich mix of both public and private sector clientele.”

The Energists is a specialist executive search firm operating exclusively in the energy industry. Established in 1979, the firm recruits for oil & gas, power & utilities, and alternative energy.

Energy Sector Seeking Top Talent

According to Steve Goodman, who leads the North American energy search practice for Egon Zehnder, it is during difficult times that leadership and innovation are most in demand in this sector. Downturns, he said, are all about finding the right balance between positioning to survive and positioning for coming growth. “The demand for leadership in upstream oil and gas and oil field services companies is compelling,” he said. “However, given oil’s current downward pricing pressure, the feverish demand within O&G and oil field services companies has diminished.” That said, he noted that Egon Zehnder continues to work on C-suite and board transitions as top leadership requires the ability to not only manage growth, but also navigate cyclical storms.

A report issued by ManpowerGroup, “Strategies to Fuel the Energy Workforce,” found that 58 percent of energy executives said they struggle to find the talent they need and 74 percent believe the problem will worsen over the next five years. Job categories identified as being in greatest demand included field workers, skilled trades, and highly educated professionals.

The study also found that the talent shortage may already be slowing growth and expansion throughout the sector. In the utilities subsector, where half of the workforce is already over the age of 40 — 100,000 net new jobs are projected. Many of the positions, according to recruiters, will require tech-savvy candidates to keep pace with future developments.

Related: Energy Sector Seeks Leadership

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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