The Federalist Society Taps CarterBaldwin to Find New President and CEO
June 13, 2024 – The Federalist Society, the influential U.S. conservative legal organization, has retained CarterBaldwin Executive Search to lead in its search for a new president and CEO, according to an email obtained by Bloomberg News. The assignment is being led by partner Andrea McDaniel Smith and associate partner Gerri Williams. Eugene Meyer, who has served as the executive director, CEO or president of the non-profit organization for more than 40 years, said he is in good health but is beginning the search now in the hopes it will move expeditiously and carefully but without undue pressure. This should also allow time for a smooth transition.”
“The society is doing well, and this transition can, and I trust will, lead to even better things ahead in what will undoubtedly continue to be a very challenging environment,” Mr. Meyer wrote in an email sent to Federalist Society members.
Mr. Meyer’s move comes as the Federalist Society, which was instrumental in suggesting conservative Supreme Court justices during Donald Trump’s administration, faces new pressure from allies of the former president who say it has been too timid and business-friendly, according to Bloomberg News. “While the Federalist Society has long advocated for a traditional and restrained approach to the courts, younger members influenced by Trump have pushed for judges and lawyers to more aggressively push conservative policies,” the news outlet said.
“I think it would be fair to say there’s been some movement over time more in the direction of interpreting the Constitution and less in the direction of pure judicial restraint,” he said in a Politico interview.
The Federalist Society, an association of lawyers and judges with thousands of members, has spent decades pushing U.S. courts to the right, according to Bloomberg News. The organization has been credited with orchestrating the string of recent conservative victories at the Supreme Court, including the rollback of abortion rights, environmental protections and race-based affirmative action in higher education.
According to Federalist Society co-chair Leonard Leo, the change in leadership is not expected to alter the direction of the 42-year-old organization. “I don’t see the transition to a new CEO as affecting its mission, its principals or the kinds of activities that it historically has engaged in,” Mr. Leo told The Washington Post.
Mr. Leo said the group’s new leader “needs to be somebody who can lead the conservative legal movement and continue to promote the organization as a very-important thought leader about our constitution and the rule of law.”
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Speaking to The Washington Post, Mr. Leo said that Mr. Meyer led the organization through its “successful evolution and transformation over many years” and that it “is excited about the opportunity to continue its work with new leadership.”
Building Senior Leadership Teams
CarterBaldwin is a retained executive search firm that partners with its clients to build senior leadership teams. Since its inception in 2001 as a corporate firm, they have expanded its client portfolio to include the non-profit and academic sectors, serving both domestic and international clients from the firm’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA and our Washington, D.C. office. CarterBaldwin is listed among a variety of rankings published by Hunt Scanlon Media, including its Top 50, Private Equity Power 100, and Top 50 Higher Education Search Firms.
CarterBaldwin Recruits President for Langham Partnership USA
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has recently assisted in the recruitment of Carl Moeller as new president of Langham Partnership USA. “Carl Moeller will be a marvelous addition to Langham Partnership,” Joel Carpenter, LPUSA board chair, said. “He will bring an extraordinary range of experience in international Christian work and a servant’s heart to this role. We are grateful for his eagerness to join our team.”
The ministry notes that Dr. Moeller has both a heart for and experience serving the global church that honors founder John Stott’s vision to raise the standard of biblical preaching around the world. He comes to Langham with decades of ministry experience and will succeed president Ben Homan, who will retire in December 2024 after more than 14 years of leading Langham.
Ms. McDaniel Smith directs CarterBaldwin’s office in Washington, D.C., and serves social sector clients including non-profit organizations, universities, foundations, and social enterprises. She joined CarterBaldwin in 2015 following more than 15 years of distinguished work in public service, and non-profit organizations. Ms. McDaniel Smith served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, advising George W. Bush on his appointments to government agencies.
Ms. Williams brings a combination of real-life experience, recruiting, and search management expertise to her work at CarterBaldwin. Since joining the firm, she has led higher education cabinet and global non-profit searches, partnering with key leaders, boards of directors, trustees, and search committees. Ms. Williams began her career as a K-12 school administrator before pivoting to higher education, where she served in leadership positions in program implementation, admissions, and financial aid at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Central Carolina Community College, North Carolina State University, Lamar University, Our Lady of the Lake University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media