Ward Howell Opens Office in Houston

March 29, 2019 – Global recruiter Ward Howell International has 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. “We are excited to welcome Tom back to Ward Howell,” said Asad Haider, president of the Americas, COO and member of the board. “The growth of our energy practice is key to our expansion strategy and allows us to serve energy clients and help them navigate their talent challenges.”
“With Houston being the global capital of the energy industry and on track to become the third largest city in the U.S., it’s exciting to be opening an office there and enhancing our footprint and reach,” he said.
Mr. Dowdy has 20 years of experience serving the energy industry in talent attraction in both executive search and human resources management. Before rejoining Ward Howell, Mr. Dowdy held senior HR roles for companies such as Parker Drilling, Weatherford and Tenaris. He began his executive search career at Ward Howell International in the late 1990’s, working closely with partner Mike Tappan in the Moscow office. Mr. Dowdy became one of the top executive search consultants assisting both international and Russian energy clients. He later joined BP and eventually relocated to Houston.
“During the low oil price crisis of several years ago many executives retired or left the industry, creating a distinct talent gap,” said Mr. Dowdy. “Considering the unprecedented increase in activity in the U.S. energy industry there is a unique opportunity for executive search. I’m pleased to rejoin Ward Howell International to help build the firm’s energy practice.”
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.
Ward Howell Expands Global Travel & Hospitality Practice
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.
Recently, Ward Howell 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