AESC Adds Eight EMEA 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 top executive search and leadership consulting firms worldwide, today announces 2024 officers and representatives to the AESC EMEA Council. The Council consists of elected officers and representatives from AESC Member executive search and leadership advisory firms from across Europe and Africa.   

Clare Mahon, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, commented, “The diverse expertise and unwavering dedication the EMEA Council members bring to our profession will propel us toward new heights of success in 2024. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with them.” 

New Council Members for 2024 

Thorsten Amend-Schnaar, Frankfurt-based Executive Partner at Höchsmann & Company GmbH & Co. KG, has provided executive search and leadership consulting since 2013. He primarily supports medium-sized companies, family-owned companies and international corporations in search, succession planning, coaching and management appraisals. 

Alice Breeden, London-based Partner and Regional Co-Managing Partner of the CEO & Board of Directors Practice in Europe and Africa at Heidrick and Struggles, has over 20 years of experience working at the senior executive and board level. She leads work with boards and leadership teams worldwide on a range of talent advisory issues. 

Alex Essaid, Dubai-based Partner at Rasd, has led high-impact executive search mandates across various sectors including family groups, investment conglomerates, construction, government, and renewable energy since 2013.  His contributions have driven innovation and the development of the firm's services to provide greater value to clients in the Gulf Cooperation Council. 

Dalil Guendouz, Paris and Casablanca-based Partner at Exec Avenue, uses his multi-cultural CEO experience and expertise to provide executive search, interim management, leadership consulting and board services to Moroccan and international companies in Morocco, Sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  

Michael Barrington Hibbert, London-based Founder, CEO and Global Managing Partner for Barrington Hibbert Associates Financial Services Practice, has advised multiple FTSE 100 firms over the years, with a global track record across C-Suite appointments covering both the buy and sell sides. 

Julia Scheffer, Johannesburg-based Global Director of Business Development at AltoPartners, is the global brand custodian and communications/marketing lead for the partnership, an invited member of the Global Operating Committee and responsible for new partner search activity. 

Olivia Sharp, London based Partner in the HR Practice for Eton Bridge Partners, specialises in Chief People Officer and wider HR roles globally, and has a practitioner background in HR, gained in various senior positions in a FTSE100 environment. Olivia also has extensive general management experience and specialist interests in wellbeing, particularly its relationship with organisational performance, in industrial relations and in socio-economic inclusion. 

Elena Terol, Madrid-based Managing Partner at Cornerstone International Group, has more than 25 years of experience working at executive search companies such as Russell Reynolds and AMROP. Used to working for multinational companies, Elena has become a specialist consultant in Financial Services, Consumer Goods, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Luxury, Retail Distribution Real Estate, and Leisure & Entertainment sectors. 

2024 Council Officers 

The 2024 AESC EMEA Council officers are: Tim Sheffield, Chairman of Sheffield Haworth, acting EMEA Council Chair. Kristen Smit, Managing Partner at Boyden, acting Vice Chair. Joe Coulter, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at Coulter Partners, Chair Emeritus.  

The Complete 2024 AESC Council of Europe, Africa & Middle East 

• Tim Sheffield, Sheffield Haworth, Chair – London   
• Kristen Smit, Boyden, Vice Chair – Paris   
• Joe Coulter, Coulter Partners, Chair Emeritus and Chair, Regional & Global Membership Committees – London   
• Karen Greenbaum, AESC, Ex-officio – New York   
• Thorsten Amend-Schnaar, Höchsmann & Company GmbH & Co. KG – Frankfurt 
• Emanuela Aureli, Spencer Stuart – London  
• Jennifer Borrer, Borrer Executive Search – Lausanne    
• Jacques Bouwens, Russell Reynolds Associates – Amsterdam   
• Alice Breeden, Heidrick & Struggles – London   
• Tom Christensen, Stanton Chase – Norway  
• Oana Ciornei, Amrop Romania – Bucharest   
• Manuel Clavel, Talengo / Panorma – Barcelona 
• Alex Essaid, Rasd – Dubai 
• Dalil Guendouz, Exec Avenue – Casablanca 
• Raffaele Jacovelli, Hightech Partners – Brussels  
• Ewa Kuszelewski, Michaël Berglund AB / IIC Partners – Stockholm    
• Marcus Meyer, Meyer & Sohne GmbH / ECI Group – Bocholt, Germany   
• Bernard Perry, TRANSEARCH – London   
• Julia Scheffer, AltoPartners – Johannesburg   
• Kester Scrope, Odgers Berndtson – London   
• Olivia Sharp, Eton Bridge Partners – Windsor 
• Elena Terol, Cornerstone International Group – Madrid 
• Annelize van Rensburg, Signium – Johannesburg   
• Patrycja Weglorz, EMA Partners – Poland  
• Sophie Wigniolle, Eric Salmon & Partners, Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee – Paris  

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.