Membership
Executive Search Veteran to Retire from Heidrick & Struggles
Gerry Roche has announced his intention to retire from Heidrick & Struggles, effective 31st December. Gerry has more than 50 years’ of experience as an executive search consultant, having been recruited by Gardner Heidrick to join Heidrick & Struggles in 1964.
In 1978 he was appointed president & CEO of Heidrick & Struggles, and became chairman in 1981. In 2009 he announced that he planned to step down from the Heidrick & Struggles board. Since then he has served as a senior advisor to the CEO and to the firm’s CEO & Board practice.
An active support of AESC, Roche served as board chair in 1974-75 and regularly spoke at AESC events. In 1995 he was presented with the Gardner Heidrick Award – AESC’s capstone award, presented to one individual each year in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the profession.
AESC profiled Roche for the first issue of Executive Talent magazine, back in February 2014. During the interview we asked what he felt were the key ingredients to being a great search consultant. “Number one: there is no substitute for integrity,” he said. “If you don’t have that, I don’t care what else you have, go do something else. Number two: human sensitivity. You have got to read people. Number three: always take the long-term approach. Avoid short-term expediency because life is a long-term deal.”
Everyone at AESC thanks Gerry for his contribution to the profession and wishes him a long and fulfilling retirement.
