HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES OPENS CALGARY OFFICE
Chicago-based Heidrick & Struggles, established in 1953 as the first executive search firm in the U.S., today operates in key business centres around the world.
Proud of its position on Forbes’ most-trusted list, the firm has built a successful presence in global petro-centres — except Calgary, a city it has targeted for 10 years. Heidrick & Struggles has fulfilled those plans with the opening of an office here under the leadership of Sean McLean, a third-generation Calgarian and one of the city’s most respected search professionals.
McLean began his career as an educator, serving as academic dean at the Calgary Academy and then principal and vice-president of operations of The Edge School for Athletes, where he was a board member until recently.
After 10 years in the non-profit sector, McLean began to explore career leadership opportunities in other fields before joining search and consulting firm Conroy Ross Partners. He amassed a number of contacts during his teaching career and was soon promoted to the position of partner and practice leader responsible for executive search in the company’s Calgary, Edmonton and Regina offices.
In 2013, McLean moved to Caldwell Partners, a firm with a broader geographic practice where he focused on the oil and gas and industrial portfolios.
McLean said he had no plans to leave Caldwell Partners, where he became managing partner, but was keen to take on the challenge of opening a local office when approached by Heidrick & Struggles. Tuesday’s opening of the Calgary office will be attended by partners from the firm’s locations in Chicago, Houston, New York, Washington and Toronto.
McLean has a team of three seasoned professionals and expects to soon recruit three more employees. The brand is associated with a legacy of placing board directors, CEO’s and C-suite executives across every industry. McLean has been named as a member of Heidrick & Struggles’ global industrial and financial officers practice and is also developing a leadership consulting arm in his Calgary office to deliver advisory solutions aimed at accelerating performance of leaders, teams and organizations. Calgary-based Superior Lodging Corp. has been recognized by Kostuch Media, publisher of Hotelier and Foodservice and Hospitality, with its Hotel Company of the Year award. The Pinnacle Award will be presented to Superior president and CEO Marc Staniloff in December. The company’s shift toward development of branded, limited-service hotels has positioned it for expansion, and Superior is poised for conversion of its brands such as Super 8 and Travelodge Canada throughout central and Atlantic Canada. Staniloff said the company is also on track to have 40 Microtel hotels open across the country by the end of 2018. Over the next two years he anticipates welcoming 500 new team members to the company. The Soul of the Next Economy Forum will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Ambrose University. It’s an opportunity for local business leaders to learn about social stewardship, effective community development and collaboration among different sectors to address social and development issues. The forum is hosted by partners Fig Tree Foundation and Vibrant Communities Calgary along with community Black Diamond Group and Business Development Bank of Canada. Former Dragon Den’s personality Arlene Dickinson will moderate a roundtable.