Terry D. Thornley and Yanqing Sui Awarded for Excellence in the Profession

Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants Excellence Award presented to Spencer Stuart General Counsel, APAC, and Assistant General Counsel 

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) honored Terry D. Thornley, Spencer Stuart General Counsel, APAC, and Yanqing Sui “Sui”, Spencer Stuart Assistant General Counsel, with the AESC Award of Excellence for their outstanding impact on the profession. 

Over the last few years, Terry and Sui have been integral in charting AESC’s approach to helping members comply with China’s data protection laws, reinforcing their commitment to AESC’s highest professional standards. 

Terry and Sui’s collaborative partnership with AESC led to the creation of the "AESC Guidance on Chinese Personal Information Protection Law"—a vital document that serves as a foundation for understanding and complying with China's complex data protection laws within the executive search industry. The document thoroughly addresses the nuances of the Personal Information Protection Law, emphasizing individual rights, stringent personal information processing standards, and outlining explicit consent requirements. 

Terry and Sui worked with the AESC to continuously refine the guidance from the initial draft in 2021 to its final publication in 2024, as the laws, regulations, and interpretations evolved. Their work notably impacted the executive search and leadership consulting profession, emphasizing robust compliance and ethical standards essential in today’s regulatory landscape.  

“I am incredibly proud of Terry Thornley and Yanqing Sui for their critical contributions and impactful work toward the release of the AESC China PIPL Guidelines,” said Spencer Stuart Chief Legal Officer Lucy Lopez. “This past year, Terry and Sui prioritized the PIPL Guidelines to ensure that we are all meeting applicable standards and expectations. Both Sui and Terry are highly committed to excellence, collaborative, thoughtful, and oriented towards setting and working against a high bar.” 

By translating complex legal frameworks into actionable compliance steps, Terry and Sui have significantly elevated the profession’s understanding and position in relation to Chinese data protection laws. This not only safeguards AESC members from legal and financial risks but also aligns with AESC's high ethical standards, showcasing an exemplary commitment to professional excellence. 

The document is a clear roadmap for compliance amid severe penalties for non-compliance, such as penalties of up to 5% of annual business income and personal liabilities for executives. Not only does the document help mitigate legal and financial risks for AESC members, but it also safeguards the reputation of the profession at large.  

Their work underscores the industry's commitment to confidentiality, including data protection, which fosters trust among clients and candidates, and elevates the reputation of the executive search and leadership consulting profession as a leader in upholding high ethical and professional standards.  

“I would like to recognize Terry Thornley and Yanqing Sui for the important contribution they made in leading the efforts to produce the AESC Guidance on China’s Personal Information Protection Law,” said AESC CEO Karen Greenbaum. “They did a superb job ensuring that our members understand the critical components of this legislation, reinforcing AESC’s requirements for confidentiality, data protection and data security.  I’ve known Terry for many years and respect him for his expertise and his commitment to collaborate for the good of the profession.” 

About the AESC Award of Excellence 

The AESC Award of Excellence honors individuals at the height of their careers who have made significant, outstanding contributions to the executive search and leadership consulting profession. Since 2000, this award has been given to recipients who promote AESC’s commitment to the highest professional standards through its Professional Practice Standards at their firm and within the profession. 

About AESC 

Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standards for the executive search and leadership consulting profession. AESC Members represent 16,000+ trusted professionals in 1,200+ offices, spanning 70+ countries. AESC Members are recognized experts providing consulting services in the areas of leaders, teams and culture to the world’s leading organizations. They leverage their access and expertise to place more than 100,000 executives each year in board of directors and C-level positions across industry sectors. Dedicated to strengthening leadership together, AESC and its members share a deep commitment to the highest quality standards in executive search and leadership consulting—for the benefit of clients and the profession. We Shape. Connect. Educate. Innovate. Learn more about us at aesc.org. For AESC’s career services, visit bluesteps.com.