AESC Honors 2020 Award Recipients at Annual Global Conference

This week at their annual AESC Global Conference, held virtually this year due to COVID-19, the global Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) honored recipients of its Award of Excellence and Commitment to the Community Award.

The AESC Award of Excellence recognizes an individual who makes an outstanding impact in the executive search and leadership consulting profession, especially in reinforcing the AESC commitment to the highest professional standards through its Code of Professional Practice. This year’s AESC Award of Excellence is presented to Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group and Dale E. Jones, CEO of Diversified Search Group.

As CEO of the Ellig Group/ IIC Partners, Janice Ellig is dedicated to increasing the placement of women and diverse candidates on corporate boards and in C-suites. Heralded by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of “The World’s Most Influential Headhunters,” Ellig is often consulted for her expertise and her commitment to gender parity, inclusion, and diversity. She is Founder of the Women’s Forum of New York’s Corporate Board Initiative and its signature event, Breakfast of Corporate Champions. Since 2011, she continues to spearhead this event to honor companies committed to board diversity and to encourage CEOs to sponsor board-ready women. Peers comment, "Through her speaking, writing, professional practice and volunteerism, Janice has had a significant impact of the lives of professional women in all sectors."

Ellig frequently appears at speaking engagements and in the media. She was recently interviewed for Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine, (New York City edition), on the topic of rebuilding corporate America – scheduled for release 2021. She is the co-author of two books: Driving The Career Highway and What Every Successful Woman Knows, acknowledged by Bloomberg Businessweek as “the best of its genre.” Ellig is Chair (2020) of the University of Iowa Center for Advancement (UICA); Board Director of the National YMCA; Trustee Emeritus of the Actors Fund and Committee For Economic Development (CED); Women’s Forum of New York Past President and Chair of the Corporate Board Initiative; member of the Steering Committee, US 30% Club and The Economic Club of New York. Ellig’s career in the corporate world was at Pfizer, Citibank and the IPO of Ambac Financial Group as CAO.

Dale E. Jones, CEO of Diversified Search Group, is one of the world’s top CEO and board leadership consultants. Jones focuses exclusively on finding and attracting CEO and board-level talent for clients seeking authentic leadership—and capacity to lead. A native of Dallas, he grew up as the son of a shoe cobbler/janitor and a teacher, which has fueled his lifelong commitment to service and passion to help others fully realize their potential. Peers share, "Dale is one of the search industry’s leading and loudest voices advocating for the corporate social responsibility imperative. Dale believes in the power of shared values, and the critical mission of being an organization that carries purpose beyond profits."

Jones began his career in banking. He later entered the field of executive search and leadership consulting, joining Heidrick & Struggles as managing partner of the Atlanta office (1999-2007). In 2007, he worked for Revolution LLC, a venture-backed firm that funded efforts to provide clean drinking water to Africa. In 2009, Dale returned to Heidrick & Struggles where he helped lead the firm’s CEO and board practice in North America. He became CEO of Diversified Search in 2013. Jones is a corporate board member of Northwestern Mutual Corp. and serves in not-for-profit roles at Morehouse College and The Special Olympics. He’s frequently quoted in the media and contributes regularly as a speaker and instructor at Georgetown University.

AESC’s Commitment to the Community Award is presented to Leathwaite, a leading executive search and human capital specialist firm, for the work they have done to support Hope and Homes for Children. The mission of Hope and Homes for Children is to be the catalyst for the global elimination of institutional care for children. For children in vulnerable families, COVID-19 is not just a health crisis—it places them at urgent risk of losing their loving homes and childhoods to the neglect of an orphanage. Children already confined to orphanages are facing increased levels of abuse, harm and infection due to staff shortages. These children are often voiceless.

Together as a firm, Leathwaite, launched two charity challenges to raise funds, help Hope and Homes for Children with key senior hires, as well as volunteer their time, expertise and social media influence. The charity suffered with reduced brand exposure and a substantial loss of funds due to the impact of COVID. Thus, Leathwaite’s goal was to use their social media channels, network and influence, to help raise the profile of the charity and stress the importance of their work. Mark Waddington, CEO of Hope and Homes for Children commented, "Companies like Leathwaite are leading the field when it comes to finding purpose and working alongside a charity like ours to fulfill it. We are genuinely over the moon and proud to have them as a partner, and I cannot think of a worthier company to be nominated for the AESC Commitment to the Community Award."

Karen Greenbaum, AESC President & CEO, 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 the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants

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.

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