New practice expands reach of Witt/Kieffer’s existing work with nonprofits
Oak Brook, IL, September 30, 2013 – Witt/Kieffer, one of the nation’s leading executive search firms, today announced the launch of a new Not-for-Profit practice, which will recruit C-level executives for nonprofit organizations across a wide range of sectors, including leading organizations in philanthropy, education reform, community engagement, human services, and specialty education. This new practice launch represents a formal extension of Witt/Kieffer’s existing work with nonprofits, which has traditionally been focused on the healthcare, higher education, and sports industries. The launch of Witt/Kieffer’s Not-for-Profit practice will enable the firm to broaden its efforts across the nonprofit landscape and to underscore its mission of service to those organizations positively impacting the quality of life
Wayne Luke will join Witt/Kieffer’s Atlanta office as managing partner of the practice. John Fazekas joins the firm’s Burlington office and will serve as a consultant in the practice.
“The launch of our new Not-for-Profit practice is a natural continuation of Witt/Kieffer’s more than 40 years of work with not-for-profit organizations,” said Charles W.B. Wardell III, Witt/Kieffer President and CEO. “Over the past year, the firm has experienced fantastic growth, and we now have a unique opportunity to expand our work with nonprofits. Wayne Luke is an established, respected leader in not-for-profit executive search, and he is the perfect person to strengthen and grow this practice.”
Luke brings with him more than two decades of recruiting and leadership development experience, most recently with The Bridgespan Group, Inc. where he was head of that firm’s executive search practice and partner since 2008. Prior to his time with Bridgespan, he served as corporate development officer at TalentQuest, where he was responsible for building new executive search and leadership mentoring business units. Luke formerly ran the Heidrick & Struggles office in Atlanta for almost 14 years, after which he became executive vice president of People and Organizational Development for the Atlanta Falcons. He graduated from Georgia Tech and received an M.B.A. from Harvard.
John Fazekas has 25 years of executive search experience advising executives and organizations in not-for-profit and for-profit industries. He also comes to Witt/Kieffer from The Bridgespan Group, serving as director of executive search there, and prior to that was a principal with Polachi & Company in Framingham, Massachusetts. He holds a bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The new Not-for-Profit practice is the latest development in Witt/Kieffer’s growth strategy, having introduced several new practices in 2012, including the firm’s Board Services, Life Sciences, and Sports Leadership practices, as well as Solutions for Exceptional Leadership, a portfolio of services to support healthcare, higher education and not-for-profit organizations in leadership assessment, onboarding, succession planning and transitioning.
For more information or for interview requests, please contact Emma McKinstry at212.576.2700 and emckinstry@goodmanmedia.com.
Witt/Kieffer is among the nation’s preeminent executive search firms and the only national firm that specializes in healthcare, higher education and not-for-profit organizations. Founded in 1969, its mission is to identify outstanding leadership solutions for organizations committed to improving the quality of life. Clients include hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools, physician groups, biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, colleges, universities and community service and cultural organizations. The firm conducts 400 search assignments each year for presidents, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CIOs, physician executives, medical school deans, clinical chairs and other senior executives. Visit www.wittkieffer.com for more information.
