AESC Adds Three Europe and Africa Council Members

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants Also Appoints New Officers 

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), representing the world’s leading executive search and leadership consulting firms, today announces 2023 officers and representatives to the AESC Council of Europe and Africa. The Council consists of elected officers and representatives from AESC Member executive search and leadership advisory firms from across Europe and Africa.  

Tim Sheffield, incoming Chair, commented: “We at AESC set the highest standards for executive search and leadership consulting, and governance is part of our commitment to excellence. I’m honored to serve as Council Chair for Europe and Africa, and I’m proud to welcome these impressive new members who each set an example of excellence in our profession that is growing and transforming at pace.” 

New Council Members for 2023:   

Tom Christensen, Managing Partner, Norway, and Global Vice Chair, Practice Groups at Stanton Chase, specializes in several business sectors, including Consumer Products and Services, Technology, and Private Equity.  

Manuel Clavel, Spain-based Partner with Talengo / Panorama, has more than 20 years’ experience placing top talent, specializing in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods and Retail sectors with a focus on the European and Latam market. 

Sophie Wigniolle, Paris-based Partner with Eric Salmon & Partners, specializes in the Private Equity and financial services sectors, conducting executive searches and leadership advisory projects. She is also an active member of the Board Services Practice. 

2023 Council Officers:   

Tim Sheffield, London-based Chair at Sheffield Haworth, has been appointed Council Chair. Kristen Smit, Managing Partner at Boyden in Paris, will now serve as Council Vice Chair. Jennifer Borrer, Lausanne, Switzerland-based Managing Partner and Founder at Borrer Executive Search will continue to serve as Council Secretary/Treasurer.  Joe Coulter, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Coulter Partners based in London, will now become Chair Emeritus. 

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.”    

2023 AESC Council of Europe and Africa:   

• Tim Sheffield, Sheffield Haworth, Chair – London  
• Kristen Smit, Boyden, Vice Chair – Paris  
• Jennifer Borrer, Borrer Executive Search, Secretary/Treasurer – Lausanne  
• Joe Coulter, Coulter Partners, Chair Emeritus, Chair, Regional Membership Committee – London  
• Karen Greenbaum, AESC, Ex-officio – New York  
• Emanuela Aureli, Spencer Stuart – London  
• Christo Badenhorst, Search Partners International / AltoPartners – Johannesburg  
• Bendik Nicolai Blindheim, ISCO Group – Oslo  
• Jacques Bouwens, Russell Reynolds Associates – Amsterdam  
• Louise Chaplin, Eton Bridge Partners – London  
• Tom Christensen, Stanton Chase – Norway 
• Oana Ciornei, Amrop Romania – Bucharest  
• Manuel Clavel, Talengo / Panorma – Spain 
• Lydia Goutas, Cornerstone International Group – Vienna  
• Albert Hiribarrondo, Alspective / Panorama – Paris   
• Raffaele Jacovelli, Hightech Partners – Brussels 
• Ewa Kuszelewski, Michaël Berglund AB / IIC Partners – Stockholm   
• José Luis Marcó, Seeliger y Conde / AltoPartners – Barcelona  
• Marcus Meyer, Meyer & Sohne GmbH / ECI Group – Bocholt, Germany  
• Franco A. Parodi, Parodi & Associates – Düsseldorf  
• Bernard Perry, TRANSEARCH – London  
• Kester Scrope, Odgers Berndtson – London  
• Claire Skinner, Heidrick & Struggles – London  
• Annelize van Rensburg, Signium – Johannesburg  
• Andrew Wallace, Leathwaite – London 
• Patrycja Weglorz, EMA Partners – Poland 
• Sophie Wigniolle, Eric Salmon & Partners, Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee – Paris 

About AESC  

Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standard for the executive search and leadership advisory profession. AESC Members represent 16,000+ trusted professionals in 1,200+ offices, spanning 70+ countries. AESC Members are recognized leaders of global executive search and leadership advisory solutions. They leverage their access and expertise to place more than 100,000 executives each year in board of directors and C-level positions for the world’s leading organizations of all types and sizes. Dedicated to strengthening leadership worldwide, 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. Learn more about us at aesc.org. For AESC’s career service for executive-level candidates, visit bluesteps.com.