Heidrick & Struggles

Communications is no longer a support function. It’s a strategic driver of growth. In the latest episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Paula Davis speaks with Silvio Tavares, president and CEO of VantageScore®, about how communications, digital strategy, accountability, and AI are reshaping leadership and competitive advantage. From building a culture of accountability to using AI for real-time market listening, Silvio shares practical insights for leaders navigating rapid change. Listen to the full episode: https://bit.ly/3PseCeq #Leadership #Communications #AI #DigitalTransformation

We’re pleased to announce that Jane Bargmann has expanded her leadership role at Heidrick & Struggles. In addition to continuing as Global Practice Managing Partner of our Industrial Practice, Jane will now also lead our Healthcare & Life Sciences and Private Capital Practices. This expanded scope reflects our commitment to delivering deeper expertise, stronger connectivity, and accelerated growth for clients across three critical sectors. Please join us in congratulating Jane on her expanded role. #NewLeadershipRole #LeadershipAppointment

For boards and CEOs alike, understanding how leaders think, decide, and operate under pressure has become a critical priority. Today’s leaders are navigating constant disruption, accelerating technological change, and shifting stakeholder expectations. In this environment, organizations need deeper insight into how leadership judgment holds under pressure - and how assumptions evolve as conditions change. Heidrick Immersive represents a next-generation, AI-enhanced approach to leadership assessment. Through AI-enabled simulations of strategic inflection points, organizations can observe leadership in motion - revealing actionable insights into decision making, adaptability, resilience, and team dynamics. Watch the video to hear Dana Landis, Executive Director of Global Assessment and Succession Solutions at Heidrick & Struggles, discuss why leadership agility is more critical than ever - and how immersive assessment can help organizations gain a clearer view of how leaders will operate when the stakes are highest. Learn more about Heidrick Immersive: https://bit.ly/48TlYhn #Leadership #CEO #BoardLeadership #Agility #LeadershipDevelopment #Assessment

Boards are being asked to navigate a very different operating environment than they were even a few years ago. AI. Geopolitical volatility. Faster strategic shifts. Expanding stakeholder expectations. But many boards aren’t evolving at the same pace. Our latest Board Monitor US 2026 report finds: 🔵Nearly two-thirds of CEOs and directors see a mismatch between current board strengths and future needs 🔵Only 34% say their boards are effective at foresight and renewal 🔵Fortune 500 boards still refresh relatively slowly despite accelerating change The strongest-performing boards are approaching renewal differently: balancing continuity with fresh perspectives, stronger alignment, and a more future-focused mindset. This year’s report explores what separates those boards from the rest—and why it matters for performance. View the full insights below. #Boards #CorporateGovernance #Leadership #CEO #Strategy

Transformation isn’t failing because organizations lack ambition. It’s failing because execution can’t keep pace with the complexity of continuous change. In this new article, Laura Klein explores why organizations struggle to close the ambition–execution gap — and how interim leaders and on-demand experts can help build the execution capacity needed to sustain transformation. Read more: https://bit.ly/3P2uzb6 #Transformation #Leadership #AI #OnDemandTalent #InterimLeadership

In fast-moving environments like life sciences, agility is becoming just as important as expertise. Sunny Ackerman’s latest Forbes article looks at how organizations can strengthen transformation efforts by incorporating external perspectives and flexible leadership models when and where they are needed most. Explore the full insights: https://bit.ly/3RGGiwD #LifeSciences #Strategy #Leadership #Transformation

AI adoption isn’t failing because of the technology. It’s stalling because no one fully owns the workforce transformation behind it. That’s why some organizations are creating a new leadership role: the VP of AI Workforce Transformation — focused on redesigning work, evolving skills, driving adoption, and turning AI investment into measurable business impact. The question isn’t whether AI will reshape work. It’s who will lead that change. Our latest piece explores why this role is emerging now — and whether your organization may need it. #AI #Leadership #WorkforceTransformation #VPofAI

What does the next chapter of automotive really look like? At a recent Heidrick & Struggles panel in Birmingham, Michigan, leaders from across OEMs, suppliers, investors, and policy came together to explore exactly that. The discussion covered the forces reshaping the industry—from capital allocation decisions and shifting trade policy to tariffs, AI adoption, and ongoing supply chain evolution. The conversation also reinforced how rapidly leadership expectations are evolving as companies navigate transformation across technology, operations, manufacturing, and geopolitics simultaneously. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to such a thoughtful exchange. #Leadership #Automotive #Auto

AI is forcing a reset in how work and leadership are structured. 🔵 Entry-level roles are shrinking. 🔵 Management layers are being questioned. 🔵 And the traditional leadership pipeline is under real pressure. So what comes next? Join Heidrick & Struggles for a live discussion on how AI is transforming the future of work for CHROs and CAIOs. Brian Kropp and Ryan Bulkoski will be joined by ABM Industries Leaders Raúl J. Valentín, EVP & CHRO, Melanie Kirkwood Ruiz, CIO, and Kayla Oliver, VP, Product, Partnerships & Innovation, to share how they are partnering across HR and technology to drive real transformation. This conversation goes beyond theory. It’s about what organizations are doing right now, and what leadership teams need to do next. Register for the webinar below. #AI #Leadership #CHRO #CAIO #OrganizationalDesign

The CEO playbook is changing faster than many companies are. The latest Route to the Top US 2026 report finds that more than a third of US companies do not have a CEO with the capabilities they need for the next two to three years. At the same time, 93% expect major strategic change ahead. The bigger issue is performance. Organizations with the right CEO and stronger alignment across leadership, strategy, and succession planning are more likely to exceed financial expectations and less likely to fall short. This report looks at where the CEO capability gap is widening, what aligned organizations do differently, and what boards and leadership teams can do now to improve succession readiness. #Leadership #CEO #SuccessionPlanning #Boards