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Heidrick & Struggles Names Head of Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice
Heidrick & Struggles has named Jonathan McBride as global managing partner of the firm’s global diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) practice. “Under Jonathan’s leadership, our diversity, equity, and inclusion practice will work with more of our clients to support their efforts in bringing on board extraordinary talent from all backgrounds, and creating organizations with thriving cultures where their teams can do their best work,” said Krishnan Rajagopalan, president and CEO of Heidrick & Struggles. “For decades, our firm has been dedicated to making DEI part of the leadership conversation – starting at the top – catalyzing change and helping our clients find solutions for their unique needs. Jonathan’s deep expertise and broad-based experience will be valuable assets as our clients seek new ways to achieve their DEI objectives and measure their progress over time.”
Mr. McBride is a former head of the Presidential Personnel Office in the Obama White House, and he also served as global head of inclusion and diversity at BlackRock where he oversaw the operating committee and held other leadership roles. He joined Heidrick & Struggles in 2021 as a partner in the DEI practice and chief human resources officers practice, based in Los Angeles. In his new, expanded role leading the global DEI practice, Mr. McBride and his team will focus on advising boards, CEOs and leadership teams on various areas related to strengthening organizations’ focus on their DEI programs and enhancing workplace culture.
“I have already witnessed the incredible reach of Heidrick & Struggles,” said Mr. McBride. “I can’t imagine a better place to be if one really wants to help boards, CEOs, and other leaders meet the changing and complex demands of today and into the future.”
Lyndon Taylor, who today serves as regional managing partner of the Americas CEO and board of directors practice, led the launch of Heidrick & Struggles’ DEI practice in 2020, introducing to the marketplace a dedicated, global practice that brought together the firm’s consultants from both its executive search and consulting teams to support clients focused on creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership teams, cultures, and organizations. Mr. McBride will be expected to build on the firm’s strong foundation established over the past several decades and, more recently, under Mr. Taylor’s leadership to bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to board rooms and C-suites globally.
In 2013, Mr. McBride was appointed to serve as director of the Presidential Personnel Office. He joined the Obama administration as a special assistant to the President and the deputy director of the Presidential Personnel Office in 2009, and he led several key programs, including co-chairing an initiative to reform management and work in government.
