During our 2025 Global Meeting in Madrid, we spoke with Renee Arrington, Global Chair of IIC Partners and President and COO of Pearson Partners International, about the evolving role of executive search in a rapidly shifting business environment. Renee discussed how IIC Partners firms are helping clients navigate complexity with holistic talent strategies, global collaboration, and a consultative approach tailored to both boards and executive teams.

Renee also discussed a recent collaborative assignment with Ellig Group and highlighted the importance of the IIC Partners Global Chair role as we approach our 40th anniversary. Watch the full interview to hear how executive search firms can anchor clients through change and deliver exceptional results.

Interview Transcript

1. How are you positioning your clients for success? 

We are honored to be our clients’ trusted advisor, which we earn by providing holistic talent strategies focused on game-changing results over the long term. From this vantage point, we deepen our understanding of our clients’ business strategies and how the right talent will bring those plans to life in the boardroom, the C-suite, or with the executive team.

We can deploy a full suite of services, including executive search or executive coaching, board or leadership assessment, succession planning or market mapping projects, all tailored to fit our client’s culture.

2. Tell me about a recent collaboration with another IIC Partners search firm?

One of the hallmarks of IIC Partners is our global collaboration. We do a lot of work with our member firms across the world and currently my firm, Pearson Partners, was referred a search by our great New York partner, Janice Ellig of Ellig Group. We’re working for an advancement organization of a Big 10 university, of which Janice is an alumna and a former Board Chair. This client needs a new COO, so Janice referred our firm. We competed for the work, we were selected, and we’re right in the middle of doing the search right now. We have a great slate of candidates to be the COO of this organization.

3. Why is your role as a trusted advisor more important than ever?

The business landscape is shifting before our very eyes. We are witnessing a fundamental change in where and how work happens. It’s a robust and rapidly moving environment, so our role is to serve as an anchor for our clients—a respected voice with a well-reasoned point of view on how to leverage talent to win their business strategy.

4. How does being a trusted advisor to a Board Chair differ from working with the Executive Team?

When you take a consultative approach to delivering your services, as we do, working with a Board Chair and a board of directors or the CEO and the executive leadership team can be similar. That said, the two groups have very different roles and duties, and thus, our mindset must change to serve them appropriately. Boards have fiduciary responsibility and duties of loyalty and care. Their No. 1 job is selecting the CEO, who in turn, builds the leadership team that will deliver, craft and be accountable for the company’s performance. Both groups have different talent needs and we tailor our services to meet those.

5. What does being the Chair of IIC Partners mean to you?

It’s an absolute honor to be Chair of IIC Partners. We are so strong today with top quality firms worldwide who deliver their services with excellence. We have 40 offices around the world and a bright, bright future ahead. In 2026, IIC Partners will be in operation for 40 years. We’re collaborative, we’re collegial, we like and respect one another, we have really built something special around the world. And so to have been chosen to lead us into the future as Global Chair is more than humbling.

If you would like to discuss this topic further, please reach out to Renee Arrington or find your nearest IIC Partners Global Office.