Bob Clarke has been a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards for more than 30 years. His acumen in executive search and integrated talent management is valued by hospital systems, managed care organizations, medical groups, indemnity companies, end-of-life care providers, healthcare associations, and other medical delivery systems across the United States. Bob concentrates his work at the board and C-suite levels for providers and payers of every variety, creating successful recruitment processes and counseling boards and search committees. He also partners with boards of directors of healthcare organizations to manage C-suite transitions, develop succession plans, assess leadership teams, and implement leadership development programs.
In 1984, Bob joined a regional executive search firm (The Furst Group), where he developed a national division focused on healthcare executive recruitment. Through the creation of Management Partners, Inc. (MPI), he led the acquisition in 1991 of this specialized practice, now known simply as Furst Group, and the creation of NuBrick Partners, a team focused on the long-term development of teams and executive leadership. In 2018, MPI acquired Salveson Stetson Group (SSG), an executive search firm that, like Furst Group, has been recognized as one of America’s Best Executive Search Firms by Forbes, in addition to Furst Group being ranked as one of Modern Healthcare’s 10 largest executive search firms in healthcare. Furst Group’s deep experience in healthcare and SSG’s prowess in life sciences and other key industries create a formidable combination across more than 3,500 executive searches. This is enhanced by the expertise in transforming leadership through NuBrick Partners.
Passionate about diversity in leadership, Bob has participated on a number of boards and committees. Currently, he serves on the board of directors and is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) and the Advisory Council for Global Partners in Care (GPIC). He is a past member of the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, the Board of Directors for the National Hospice Foundation of the NHPCO, the Foundation for Hospices in Sub Saharan Africa (FHSSA), the Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center, Visiting Nurses Association, and the American Red Cross, Rock River Chapter. From leading workshops and authoring studies, Bob has provided valued thought leadership across a variety of healthcare fields on topics ranging from executive team performance and team selection to effective leadership design and development.