WittKieffer Names Five Senior Partners
September 2, 2025 – Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has appointed five new senior partners. As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering leadership from within, WittKieffer elevates individuals based on demonstrated leadership qualities, expertise in the search and advisory professions, and commitment to company values, the search firm explained.
“For 56 years, WittKieffer has flourished due in large part to the dedication and expertise of its senior partners,” said Andrew Chastain, president and CEO. “The elevation of five exceptional leaders to senior partner reflects our commitment to developing leaders from within and supporting their career aspirations and achievements. These five inspire us all and I’m excited to see the future impact they will have on our firm and the clients and communities we serve.”
The following members of the firm’s consulting staff have been appointed senior partners:
Lisa DeSimone Arthur, senior partner, healthcare: Since joining WittKieffer in 2006, Ms. DeSimone Arthur has steadily advanced in responsibility. She is currently serving as WittKieffer’s senior care, home health, and hospice practice leader, identifying leaders in organizations serving older adults. She is known for supporting the growth of leaders across the healthcare continuum.
Jessica Herrington, senior partner, education: After a distinguished career in higher education development, fundraising, and alumni relations, Ms. Herrington joined WittKieffer in 2018 and steadily advanced and distinguished herself as an expert counsel to clients regarding their leadership challenges and priorities. She supports the recruitment of presidents, provosts, deans, and other key senior administrators for a range of colleges and universities.
Lydia Ostermeier-Haynes, managing partner and practice leader, interim leadership – healthcare, academic medicine, and education: With more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including several past tenures as a nursing leader and talent acquisition executive, Ms. Ostermeier-Haynes uses her extensive background to identify interim and on-demand executive placements for senior positions.
Christine Pendleton, senior partner, education: Since joining WittKieffer more than a decade ago, Ms. Pendleton has developed vast experience in identifying senior leaders for WittKieffer clients across higher education, as well as for leading nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about partnering with mission-focused organizations and has been a contributor to many of WittKieffer’s most visible searches. Ms. Pendleton is the co-chair of the firm’s diversity council and has received the WittKieffer Quality Award twice.
Melody Rose, senior partner, education and leadership advisory: As a former university president and two-time state university system chancellor, Dr. Rose brings 30 years of higher education experience to WittKieffer’s education market. She partners with boards of trustees and search committees to identify candidates who can move the mission of their institutions forward, while also advising clients on key leadership challenges.
Related: WittKieffer Appoints Chief Operating Officer
WittKieffer assists hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools, and physician groups; biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device companies; colleges and universities, and not-for-profit community service and cultural organizations with senior administrative recruiting assignments. With more than 100 search professionals nationwide, its consultants recruit CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CNOs, physician executives, and other leaders.
Board Advisory Solution Leader
WittKieffer also recently appointed Laura Orr to expand and lead the firm’s board advisory solution. “Boards that are engaged, effective, and strategically aligned have a significant impact on organizational success,” said Susan M. Snyder, executive partner for leadership advisory at WittKieffer. “We’re thrilled to welcome Laura to our team to develop these high-impact boards. Laura’s background, expertise, and consultative approach help her bring an insightful perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s governing boards.”
As a senior partner and global board advisory leader, Ms. Orr is partnering with boards to acknowledge their strengths, identify their opportunities, and increase their impact. She is an accomplished executive and board advisor with two decades of operations, strategic planning, and board governance experience and has deep expertise in facilitation and leadership coaching. In 2021, Ms. Orr founded her own firm, Forward Governance Consulting, which provided guidance for boards of directors in healthcare, academic medicine, and related industries. Her board consulting supported boards to evolve their structure, navigate leadership transitions, and align on strategy.
“I am honored and excited to write my next career chapter with WittKieffer,” said Ms. Orr. “With more than half a century of experience, WittKieffer demonstrates an unwavering commitment to organizations impacting the quality of life and has built a culture of excellence. I look forward to joining this strong, respected team and bringing my passion for governance to help clients optimize board performance, drive strategy, and advance mission through governance excellence.”
Related: WittKieffer Launches Global Emerging Sciences Practice
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
