History

For more than 50 years, Russell Reynolds Associates has been committed to our purpose to improve the way the world is led. Our firm’s history is one of excellence, partnership, and meticulous execution.

 

In 1966, Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. left a career in banking to join a boutique US search firm. Companies globally were in a period of transition, with economies shifting and advances in science, technology, and engineering creating challenges and opportunities that called for leaders with new kinds of skills.

Russ fell in love with the industry and eventually felt compelled to launch an executive search firm of his own. He raised investments from family and friends, and together Russ and a partner, Lee Getz, opened the first location of Russell Reynolds Associates on Madison Avenue in New York City in 1969.

From the beginning, RRA was a dynamic firm with a culture of mutual respect and strong ethics, and over the next several years, the firm began to gain a reputation in the market for our depth and breadth of specialized expertise as well as our high-touch client approach. This momentum led to incredible growth – first in the US and then internationally. By 1977 RRA was already one of the Big Six in the executive search space, and in the 1990s the firm became the fastest-growing of the major executive search firms. By 2000 we had 35 offices around the world.

Our growth has continued into the 21st century. Today RRA has 47 offices in major cities globally, advising some of the world’s largest and most complex organizations on their most pressing leadership challenges across industries, functions, and geographies.

While the needs of our clients have evolved since we started, the fundamental challenge they face remains: the need for new types of leaders with the skills to shape what’s next, tapping into the opportunities brought by disruptive changes in the market and technology. Across our history, we have remained committed to being a redefiner – to having our fingers on the pulse and to helping our clients stay ahead of the curve by finding and developing future-ready leaders.

 

quote

The most important thing is to hire people with a good heart, who do the right thing, who put other people’s interests ahead of their own."

– Russ Reynolds
Founder, Former President & CEO, 1969 - 1991


 

 

2024
- MarCom podcast awards: Redefiners wins Gold for Informational Series, and Platinum in the Outstanding Guest categories
- Launches RRA Leadership Labs innovation hub
- Redefiners nominated for the Webby Awards in the Business category
- Redefiners reaches #1 on Apple Podcast USA (Careers, Business) and #26 for all US podcasts
- Launches RRA Artemis to accelerate gender equity at the top of organizations

2023
- Acquires Savage Partners, a tech executive search firm
- Acquires Killbery, a leadership advisory firm
- Acquires Nvolve, a leadership consulting firm
- Receives Climate Targets Approval from SBTi
- Redefiners passes 1M downloads and wins Bronze Signal Award
- Launches RRA Mentor program for new CEOs
- Berlin office opens

2022
- Constantine Alexandrakis is named CEO
- Launches Sustainable Leadership Program in partnership with MIT Sloan
- Redefiners wins two Communicator Awards of Distinction

2021
- Launches Redefiners, a leadership podcast
- Shenzhen office opens

2019
- Becomes a participant in the United Nations Global Compact to accelerate progress on sustainability
- Launches Global Leadership Monitor survey
- RRA celebrates 50th Anniversary

 

 

2017
- Acquires Zygos, a leading board and CEO advisory firm

2016
- Formes exclusive partnership with Hogan Assessments
- RRA acquires executive search firm Amrop AS in Norway
- Miami office opens

2015
- Dubai and Montreal offices open

2012
- Clarke Murphy is named President and CEO

2009
- RRA celebrates 40th Anniversary

2008
- Mumbai office opens

2007
- Matthew J. Wright is named President and CEO
- Stamford office opens

2003
- Stockholm office opens

2000
- Munich office opens
- Reaches 35 offices around the world

1999
- RRA celebrates 30th Anniversary



 

 

1997
- Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, and São Paulo offices open

1995
- Warsaw office opens

1995
- Reached 25 offices in 12 countries

1994
- RRA celebrates 25th anniversary
- Hamburg, Menlo Park, Mexico City, and Toronto offices open

1992
- Brussels office opens

1991
- Hobson Brown, Jr. is named CEO

1989
- Atlanta and Milan offices open
- RRA celebrates 20th Anniversary

1987
- Hobson Brown is named President and CEO
- Minneapolis/St. Paul office opens

1986
- Melbourne and Tokyo offices open

1985
- Frankfurt office opens

1981
- Boston, Dallas, Hong Kong, and Madrid offices open

 

 

1980
- San Francisco office opens

1979
- Washington, DC office opens
- RRA celebrates 10th Anniversary

1977
- Paris office opens

1976
- Houston office opens

1984
- Singapore and Sydney offices open

1974
- Chicago office opens

1973
- Second US office opens in Los Angeles

1972
- London office opens, the first one outside of the US

1971
- New assignments exceed 100 annually for the first time

1969
- Former banker Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. founds the firm in New York

 

How we help: Empowering our clients by excelling their leadership

Operating as a single global firm, we advise organizations across industries on executive search and succession, and leadership performance.

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Leadership performance

We assess your leaders today and develop them for tomorrow’s challenges.

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Leadership search and succession

We find and develop outstanding executive and board leaders who will set you apart in the market.

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We are here for you

Would you like to learn about us and how we can help you find new leadership, plan succession, and drive leadership performance