Ward Howell Expands Global Travel & Hospitality Practice

June 21, 2019 – Global recruiter Ward Howell International has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Jim Theodore as a partner in its global travel and hospitality practice.
Based in Boston, Mr. Theodore joins Ward Howell with more than 30 years of experience in retained search. He has worked in the hospitality and leisure industries serving clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 100 organizations to start-up companies. He has completed searches ranging from C-suite to general managers in some of the world’s leading hotels and resorts in sectors including hospitality, hotel real estate, cruise lines, trade associations, restaurants, food and entertainment, as well as luxury residential real estate management.
“Given Jim’s background and vast experience, he is a strategic addition to our expanding travel and hospitality practice,” said Asad Haider, president – Americas, COO, and member of the board. “Ward Howell has a tremendous ability through its global network of professionals to provide clients with value beyond their expectations.”
Mr. Theodore previously founded and served as managing director of Exeter Partners, headquartered in Boston, where his team advised and partnered with global and domestic clients within the hospitality, gaming and travel industries, in a variety of engagements, from C-suite to general management. His clients include Fortune 100 companies to start-ups as well as entrepreneurial organizations. Mr. Theodore has led numerous senior-level global searches in the Americas, Caribbean, EU, Africa and Asia Pacific. Previously, he led the travel and leisure practice for two major global search firms. Early in his career, he worked for over two decades in the hospitality industry, managing hotels in Boston; Cambridge, MA; Chicago; and New York City.
“Recognizing the challenges and the rapid changes in today’s hospitality and leisure market, I realized joining Ward Howell was an excellent opportunity to better serve my clients,” said Mr. Theodore. “Ward Howell is an innovator in the field of executive search and one of the finest group of professionals I have ever met. It is an honor and a privilege to join this excellent team.”
Pioneering Firm
Ward Howell International is a global executive search firm with a network of more than 130 partners across 26 offices. As one of the pioneers in the search industry, the firm works with corporate boards and senior leadership to deliver immediate and impactful performance gains through better leaders, teams and organizations.
In March, the firm opened a new office in Houston and the addition of Thomas W. Dowdy, as partner, to lead it. He becomes a member of the firm’s energy practice. Mr. Dowdy worked for the predecessor firm of the current Ward Howell, in Russia, in the 1990s. He has 20 years of experience serving the energy industry in talent attraction in both executive search and human resources management.
Ward Howell International Adds Two Partners
Global recruiter Ward Howell International has continued its recent expansion with the additions of Kenneth Greger and Phil Schneidermeyer as partners. Based in Portland, OR, Mr. Greger joins Ward Howell’s global travel and hospitality practice with more than 25 years of experience in retained search.
Recently, Ward Howell also opened a new office in Milan. The office, which consists of 12 people, is led by Luigi Mancioppi, managing partner and chairman Italy, and Vito Gioia, managing partner and director Italy. The team is strengthened by Marcello Marcellini as partner, two associate partners, Massimo Misticoni and Marco Saltalamacchia, as well as Gabriella Espertini as consultant. “We are all very excited to have now such an experienced group of professionals in Italy,” said Bernd Prasuhn, chairman. “The competence and experience of the team is extensive and rooted in decades of experience in the executive search industry.”
Earlier this year, Ward Howell added Kenneth Greger and Phil Schneidermeyer as partners. Based in Portland, OR, Mr. Greger joined the firm’s global travel and hospitality practice with more than 25 years of experience in retained search. He has worked with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, filling C-suite positions as well as top property-level roles in sectors including hotels and resorts, casinos and integrated resorts, restaurants, travel technology and more. Mr. Schneidermeyer joined Ward Howell’s technology and innovation, healthcare/life sciences and CIO/CTO/cyber practices. He has 25 years of executive search experience working across all sectors. Mr. Schneidermeyer specializes in cyber, CIO and CTO leadership and talent advisory services.
Not long ago, the firm appointed Stuart K. Smith as partner in its hospitality and travel practice. He provides services to leaders of the hotel, restaurant and gaming industries. Based in the firm’s New York office, Mr. Smith joined Ward Howell with more than 20 years of business and leadership experience, having worked extensively throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. He has filled recruiting needs for industry leading hotel and restaurant operators, developers, private equity firms, government tourism ministries and sovereign wealth funds.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media