Practice

Board & CEO

The need for a strong, effective board of directors has never been greater. The board’s role has become much more wide-ranging, complex, and demanding.

What We Do

The boardroom has undergone significant change since the financial crisis. One major trend over the past decade has been the professionalization of the corporate director’s role. The job is more active and demanding than it was. There is greater transparency, more pressure for diversity, stakeholder activism, more potential for litigation, sustainability, to name but a few of the contemporary pressures.

The modern board consists of specialists, with each member expected to contribute a strategic perspective to the organization. There is widespread demand for expertise in areas including technology, marketing, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, emerging and international markets.

At August Leadership, we pride ourselves on our partner-led search approach to work globally with public listed, PE backed, private, not for profit and family owned organizations to build and enhance boards which can improve their effectiveness and performance.

As their champions of diversity within our firm and in executive search – across industries – we understand the importance of diverse thinking on boards and are adept at finding diverse talent to provide our clients with a well-balanced board. We present a diverse short list on every assignment.

Our Expertise

  • Board Member Recruitment
  • Board Structure
  • Board Composition
  • Board Orientation
  • Advisory Boards

Practice Team

Mary Macleod

Partner

As a trusted leadership advisor to Boards, Mary chairs the Board & CEO Practice at August Leadership. She focuses on CEO, Board Director and Non-Executive appointments, as well as succession and Board/leadership effectiveness.

Asad Haider

Founder & CEO

As an innovator, Asad has founded and now leads August Leadership, one of the fastest-growing Executive Leadership Search Firms.

Piers Marmion

Advisor

Piers is a Cambridge graduate who following an early career in family office private equity has spent over 25 years in leadership roles in the human capital sectors as a founder entrepreneur, CEO, board Director and investor.

John Purkiss

Partner

John has over 25 years’ experience in executive search. He set up and ran the CFO Practice in Heidrick & Struggles’ London office, and was promoted to Partner. Since then he has recruited senior executives and board members for a wide range of companies.

Nicole Kamaleson

Partner

Focused on mission-driven or for-purpose organizations, Nicole has advised on C-suite talent transitions, diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI), board/governance, human capital, and organizational development.

Louise Gatenby

Partner

Louise has 25 years of non-executive and executive search experience working with clients in the UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia supporting the appointment of diverse and purpose-led leaders into non-executive and senior leadership roles.

Dr. Bruno Weidl

Partner

Bruno is a highly experienced and recognized Executive Search/Coaching Consultant, Non Executive Director and serial entrepreneur.

Musharaf Hai

Advisory Partner

Musharaf’s career in consumer business spanned over 35 years. 

Laura Raynak

Partner

Laura brings over 20 years of executive search experience in the life sciences and healthcare industries. Her clients range from well-funded start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies, in both product and services organizations

Waichiro Hayashi

Partner

As an experienced executive recruiter and senior executive for multinational corporations, Waichiro provides consultative support and expertise for firms who believe that leadership change and/or counseling will dramatically improve performance. He focuses on senior level assignments for multinational firms undertaking business in Japan and Asia-Pacific in the Industrial, Technology, Life Science and Professional Services.

Eugenio Riquelme

Partner

Eugenio has deep practical experience as a search consultant and leadership advisor at both public and private boards, C-suite, and business heads level, mainly in the financial sector and financial function in various industries.

Paul Chau

Partner

Paul Chau has over two decades of executive search experience, and is highly regarded by clients of his expertise in the technology sector.

Alastair Paton

Partner

Alastair has more than 30 years’ international experience as a business leader, both in major blue chip multinational companies, and in global executive search.

Gavin Cheadle

Partner

Gavin is an experienced recruitment and Executive Search professional, based in Dubai focused on senior level, CXO and Board appointments across the Middle East region.

Sanjay Shah

Advisory Partner

Sanjay studied economics at the University of Essex and in New York – and began his career with Barclays Bank. He then joined BDO where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Sanjay spent the next 24 years in various finance and operational roles, in food & distribution, hospitality, and healthcare – becoming Chief Financial Officer of The London Clinic.

Ken Greger

Partner

With an impressive depth of domestic and international experience, Ken is well-regarded as a thought leader and advisor to the travel and hospitality industry.

James Gathercole 

Partner

James has a keen interest in innovative, technology-enabled industrial, healthcare, and consumer businesses. Clients value his deep understanding of the essential leadership characteristics of Chinese executives who succeed in western organisations. 

Thomas Fuller

Partner

Thomas Fuller is a seasoned senior leadership advisor and executive search consultant who serves clients across the global Consumer sector, including CPG, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, and Travel & Hospitality. He also leads projects in the Private Equity, Life Science, and Technology sectors. With a career spanning over 25 years in executive search consulting, Mr. Fuller has successfully delivered hundreds of Board Director and C-suite leadership projects for Fortune 500 companies, Mid-cap firms, privately held enterprises, as well as private equity, pre-IPO, and venture-backed clients.

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