Eileen Finn Recognized for Notable Contributions to the Profession

Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants Excellence Award presented at annual global conference in New York City 

Today at their annual AESC Global Conference in New York, the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) honored Eileen Finn, President and Founder of Eileen Finn & Associates, with the AESC Award of Excellence for her remarkable impact on the profession. 

Karen Greenbaum, AESC President & CEO, commented: “Eileen has been an active AESC member for many years, making significant contributions to the Boutique and Independent Firm Forums. Eileen’s commitment to quality and innovation is inspiring.”  

Eileen founded Eileen Finn & Associates 25 years ago with a vision of providing a suite of executive talent solutions focused on the placement of senior Human Resources executives. Today, Eileen’s practice offers executive search, interim placement, and executive and onboarding coaching. Noting that Eileen has been an inspiration beyond her own firm, one colleague shares that Eileen’s “work in her own firm has set an example for others in terms of innovation and best practices.” Her Firm has been certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) since 2001. 

Eileen’s vision in starting her Firm in 1998 was to focus exclusively on HR search. She has also been interested and involved in the standards of the executive search industry, first through the IACPR and then AESC. One of the reasons that she became a member of AESC was their statement of Ethics for the Profession.    

An active AESC member for more than 15 years, Eileen is integral in planning the association’s Boutique and Independent Firm Forums (BIFF), events where AESC members in boutique and independent firms gather to discuss best practices, business and market challenges and new approaches/strategies. She also serves on the Americas Council and chairs the Membership Committee.   

A colleague says of Eileen’s work with the BIFF, “Eileen is constantly pushing the BIFF to think outside of the box. She will challenge assumptions, redirect the group toward a more pressing issue and always bring new ideas to the table. In doing so she drives AESC and the BIFF members to improve. This makes all of us better and helps AESC better support its members.” 

Her activities within the industry and on academic boards have included serving on:  

• The Advisory Committees on Best Practices and Program Development 
• The Board of the IACPR (International Association of Corporate & Professional Recruitment), including co-chairing their global conferences in 2012 and 2013 
• Vice President of the Parent Board of Bucknell University as well as the University of Pennsylvania and currently serves as the President -elect of the Alumni Board of her alma mater, Rosemont College
• Was an active chapter member for the NY region on the Capital Campaign for Bucknell University from 2012-2017 

Whether working with fellow boutique and independent firms to attain quality standards or volunteering to serve on boards, Eileen is constantly showcasing her passion to innovate and advance the profession. 

One peer explains, “She has been a proponent of new practices in the field, including a focus on diversity, use of assessments in search and the expansion outside of search to offer leadership consulting services.” 

Prior to opening her firm, Eileen was President and Managing Director of the MVP Group (sector specialty in financial services) and Director of Human Resources at Coopers & Lybrand (PWC) for their Actuarial, Benefits and Compensation Consulting (ABC) practice based in New York. She graduated from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business with an MBA and received her BA in English Literature from Rosemont College. In 2012, Eileen received her executive coaching certification through iCoach Global sponsored by Baruch College. She is also certified in the Hogan Assessment. 

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 Code of Professional Practice at their firm and within the profession.  

About the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants    

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 service connecting executive-level candidates to the world’s leading executive search firms, visit bluesteps.com.