Recipients of Awards for Excellence in the Executive Search & Leadership Consulting Profession Announced at AESC Global Conference in New York

The worldwide Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) honors during today’s AESC Global Conference in New York the achievements of three AESC Members for their outstanding contributions to the profession and to the community.

The AESC Lifetime Achievement Award honors long-term achievement in the executive search and leadership consulting profession. This year’s award goes to Richard Boggis-Rolfe, Chair of Odgers Berndtson. Based in London, Boggis-Rolfe acquired the firm in 1998 when it employed 25 people. Odgers Berndtson is now the largest British-owned executive search firm. Boggis-Rolfe not only built a dominant UK business, but he was also responsible for the establishment of Odgers Berndtson in the Middle East and subsequently for the development of its businesses in Asia and Australia, and for the high growth US business.

Boggis-Rolfe has been an active member of AESC, supporting its cause as a member of its Board of Directors and the AESC Council of Europe and Africa. He has promoted AESC objectives and striven to push firms to take up membership in order to demonstrate that they operate under a banner of stringent professional standards, thus enhancing the industry and raising its profile with executives around the world. He has shown leadership within the profession over many years through his leading edge thinking in terms of innovative diversification of services, expansion of the profession into new markets, and new business models.

AESC this year also awards a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award to Gregory J. Duerksen, in memoriam, who died unexpectedly on January 31, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia. Duerksen served for more than a decade as Chair and CEO of Kincannon & Reed. He was an ardent supporter of AESC and its professional standards, and he served on the AESC Americas Council for six years. “Greg’s contribution to the firm cannot be overstated,” said Kincannon & Reed President and CEO Issy Perez. “He always reminded us to stay connected with our clients and candidates to build our business and to deliver high-quality services.”

After leading the acquisition of the firm from its founder in 2007, Greg guided Kincannon & Reed to become the leading search firm in the food and agribusiness sectors, tripling the firm’s staff and partner group while maintaining its entrepreneurial, collaborative culture. Duerksen’s generous nature and wise counsel have made a difference in many lives around the world. He will be greatly missed by the AESC community of friends and colleagues.

The AESC Commitment to the Community Award recognizes a strong commitment to service and volunteerism and goes to Thomas T. Daniels. Tom serves on Spencer Stuart's global board of directors and is a member of the firm's  Board, CEO, Financial Services, Financial Officer and Private Equity practices. He also serves on the firm’s audit and risk and cybersecurity committees.  And yet he still makes time to give back to the community. Based in New York,  in 2015 Daniels co-founded and has helped lead the Spencer Stuart teams running the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which for the firm has become a bi-annual event and later this year will have raised nearly $500,000 for charity. As Mary Wittenberg, the former CEO of New York Road Runners (NYRR) said: “When it comes to rallying others and giving back, Tom Daniels is a role model. Tom became one of the biggest champions that NYRR, our youth programs, and Team for Kids fundraising initiatives ever had.” Daniels has built on that magic of combining Spencer Stuart team-building and giving back, to craft a New York City marathon charity program.

Daniels has also given his energy to AESC by serving on its Board of Directors and as its Global Chair. He also served on and chaired the AESC Americas Council and he chaired the search committee that found the current President and CEO of AESC, Karen Greenbaum.

Karen Greenbaum said: “We honor the exceptional achievements of these AESC Members. Through their commitment to excellence both within the profession and in the community at large, our award recipients are outstanding examples of how AESC Members both serve client organizations worldwide as trusted advisors and make a positive impact in their communities, too.”

About AESC

Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standard for the executive search and leadership advisory profession. AESC Members, ranging in size from large global executive search and leadership advisory firms and networks to regional and boutique firms, 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, find and develop 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.