Eight New AESC Council of the Americas Members Selected

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants also appoints new officers  

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), representing the top executive search and leadership consulting firms worldwide, today announces 2024 officers and representatives appointed to the AESC Council of the Americas. The Council consists of elected officers and representatives from AESC Member executive search and leadership advisory firms from across the Americas region. 

Lynne Murphy-Rivera, Managing Director, Americas, commented, “It’s always exciting to welcome new officers and council members to the AESC Americas Council as it brings opportunities for new connections. Each Council member brings diverse experience and a passion for our profession. I am looking forward to what we’ll achieve together in 2024.” 

New Council Members for 2024 

Sandra Olive Bäcker, Managing Partner, Bäcker & Partners / AltoPartners based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has more than 20 years of experience in executive search. She currently specializes in executive search and leadership consulting for senior management in the local and Latin American markets. Sandra is also a Columnist in renowned newspapers and magazines.   

Sherrie Barch​, CEO and Co-Founder of Furst Group & NuBrick Partners / IIC Partners based in Chicago, IL, has more than 35 years of experience helping her clients and colleagues recruit, develop and retain leadership teams. Her expertise in executive search, assessments, and leadership consulting enables her to provide sound counsel as she helps clients align their executive teams with their success strategies. Sherrie is a seasoned speaker and writer on leadership, communication, diversity, and career management. 

Pilar Brogeras​, Managing Director, Global Leader Startups and Scale-ups for Stanton Chase based in Mexico City, MX, is a 2017 recipient of AESC’s Future of the Profession Award. Throughout her career as a consultant, she has collaborated directly in different sectors, ranging from industrial to financial services.  

Michael S. Castleman​, Chief Business Officer and Executive Partner of Emerging Markets and Interim Leadership, WittKieffer, based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL​, manages the Global Life Sciences, Investor-Backed Healthcare and Interim Leadership practices, as well as the firm's finance, technology, marketing, and commercial strategy and insights functions. 

Ryan Grant​, President and Founder, The Grant Partners, based in Atlanta, GA, has more than 15 years of executive search experience. During this time, he has completed more than 500 senior-level searches while working for Fortune 100 companies, private equity-owned organizations and professional sports franchises. 

Jonas Hedin​, Managing Partner, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen /Penrhyn International, based in Charlotte, NC, manages the team of search consultants and associates within the firm in addition to leading and executing searches across a wide array of industries and functional areas. 

Bridget Papanicholas​, CEO and Managing Director, TRANSEARCH, based in Chicago, IL, has harnessed her leadership and strategic thinking to propel TRANSEARCH Chicago to new heights, establishing it as a prominent player in the executive search industry. Bridget also designs and delivers customized culture and leadership programs for organizations of all sizes. 

Rose Mistri Somers, Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates, based in New York and Boston, serves as a senior leader in the biotech and pharmaceuticals practice. Rose’s focus spans Board and C-suite build out across the emerging growth biotech space, to search and leadership development work within the large cap realm. She is a also a member of Russell Reynolds Associates’ financial officers practice, with broader sector coverage across healthcare, consumer and technology industries. 

New Council Officers for 2024 

AESC Americas Council officer positions are as follows: Matrice Ellis Kirk, Chief Executive Officer of Ellis Kirk Group in Dallas, will now serve as Chair. Pilar Brogeras, Managing Director, Global Leader Startups and Scale-ups, Stanton Chase – Mexico City, will now serve as Vice Chair.  

The Complete 2024 AESC Council of the Americas 

• Matrice Ellis Kirk, Ellis Kirk Group, Chair – Dallas  
• Pilar Brogeras, Stanton Chase, Vice Chair – Mexico City 
• Karen Greenbaum, AESC, Ex-officio – New York   
• Sandra Olive Bäcker​, Bäcker & Partners / AltoPartners – Buenos Aires 
• Sherrie Barch​, Furst Group / IIC Partners – Chicago 
• Shaun Carpenter, PFM Executive Search / Panorama Search – Vancouver 
• Michael S. Castleman​, WittKieffer – Palm Beach Gardens 
• Nick Chambers, Boyden – Toronto  
• Nordia Edwards, Spencer Stuart – New York  
• Nona Footz, Coulter Partners – New York   
• Rodrigo Foz Forte, EXEC – Executive Performance / Panorama – São Paulo   
• Gabriel Gonzalez, GOSECO International Executive Search – San Diego 
• Ryan Grant, The Grant Partners – Atlanta 
• Lindsay Griesmeyer, RSR Partners – New York 
• Julian Ha, Heidrick & Struggles – Washington, DC 
• Jonas Hedin, Coleman Lew Canny Bowen / Penrhyn International – Charlotte 
• Daniel W. Heiman, Cornerstone International Group – Kansas City   
• Molly Hull, Slayton Search Partners – Chicago   
• Michele James, Avery James Inc. – Los Angeles   
• John Marshall, JM Search – King of Prussia, PA  
• Nicolás Mora Schrader, Equation Partners / AltoPartners – Santiago   
• Jason Murray, BIPOC Executive Search – Toronto   
• Chris Pantelidis, EMA Partners – New York   
• Denielle Pemberton-Heard, Diversified Search Group – Washington, DC 
• Bridget Papanicholas, TRANSEARCH – Chicago 
• Carol Robinson, Harbour West Consulting – North Vancouver, BC   
• Jessica Rudish, Rudish Health – Boca Raton, FL   
• Ranju Shergill, Pekarsky & Co. – Calgary   
• Jennifer Silvester, Silvester & Company – Salt Lake City 
• Rose Mistri Somers, Russell Reynolds Associates – New York 
• David Turner, Kincannon & Reed – Phoenix  
• Thayanie Ujino, FESA Group / IIC Partners – São Paulo   
• Conrad Woody, Odgers Berndtson – Washington, DC  

Karen Greenbaum, AESC President and CEO, commented: “In addition to the AESC Council’s governance role, members contribute insights that shape AESC and guide our standards and best practices. Their leadership is invaluable.”       

About AESC 

Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standard 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.