Gayle Mattson

PRINCIPAL

Ms.  Mattson is a frequent speaker and contributor on the issue of Corporate Boards and Governance. This includes her publication in The Corporate Board entitled “The Effective Lead Director”.  She is also a frequent speaker of women and boards and is a member of the Corporate Women Directors International.

Prior to forming Mattson and Company, Ms. Mattson was with the fifth largest, by revenue, U.S based Global Search firm for over nine years as Executive Vice President, Global Head of the Board & CEO Practice and Managing Director of their Stamford, Connecticut office.  Prior to that position, Ms. Mattson was with Korn/Ferry International where she began her career as a Principal in 1998 and was later promoted to Senior Client Partner in New York.   She was a major contributor within the Global Corporate Directors and CEO Practices and she ran the same for North America.

Her board experience has included cross border recruitment and rebuilding boards for Fortune 500 companies, building new boards for Pre-IPO and spin-off companies. Representative multiple board assignments include United Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Becton Dickinson, PETsMART, Palm, Inc., as well as Genencor, Cott Corporation, AstraZeneca Plc., Campbell Soup Company, Dow Jones & Company, McGraw Hill, Inco Ltd., and Manpower.  Additionally, she has been instrumental in conducting Chief Financial Officer, as well as Chief Executive Officer assignments for midcap to Fortune 100 companies, including Campbell Soup, Manpower, Cott Corporation and CDI Corporation.   Prior to her career at Korn/Ferry, Ms. Mattson was with another major international executive search firm in New York.  She was instrumental in building their global Corporate Board and Chief Financial Officers Practices from 1992 to 1998.  During this time, she was responsible for recruitment of U.S. Chief Executive Officers to European Boards, as well as Asians, Europeans and Latin Americans to U.S. Boards.  Representative assignments included McGraw-Hill Companies, Eli Lilly, Brunswick, R. R. Donnelley, Monsanto, AMP, Schneider S.A., Bowater plc. Armstrong World Industries, Harris Corporation, EDS, NYLife, Mallinckrodt Inc. Ms. Mattson received a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Valparaiso University.  She is active on the Board of several community senior organizations and serves as an International Advisory Board Member for Hand In Hand International, a micro-economic development program serving India, Afghanistan, China and South Africa.

Rick Brown

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Rick has led executive level and C-Suite search, CEO succession and CFO search advisory in Consumer Products, Hospitality, Life Sciences, Service, Industrial/Manufacturing, Media, Energy/Utilities, Healthcare, Insurance, Nonprofit and Technology for Fortune 500 companies and start-up ventures. With both domestic and international clients, Rick has built a track record assisting Corporate Board of Directors with strategic CEO succession planning and advising on strategic issues.

Rick’s clients have praised his ability to gain a deep understanding of their organizations and cultures, enabling him to match the right candidate to the organization. He has built a reputation as an outstanding coach and counselor to his clients, creating  a holistic search strategy that focuses on securing quality talent for today and tomorrow’s needs.

Prior to joining Mattson and Company, Rick spent eight years with the global executive search firm DHR International as Executive Vice President and Managing Director. He was also the founding partner and managing principal of the executive search firm SimpsonBrown, LLC, located in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Indianapolis. Rick also co-founded the executive search firm Kessler Advisor with offices on both the East and West coasts.

Rick's client list includes: Aramark, AOL Media Group, Nokia, Cott Beverage Company, White Wave Foods, Corn Products International, Vera Bradley, Olympus USA, Harlan Labs, HearUSA, Citizens Energy Group, Telamon Corporation, Indianapolis Power and Light, Mid-West Fertilizer Company and Fatima Group.

Rick also brings over 20 years in corporate Human Resource leadership roles where he was recognized as an innovated thinker, valued advisor and effective change agent for Fortune 500 companies.

He is a frequent speaker at colleges, universities and business associations and has been a contributor to business radio and television shows.  Rick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University and a Masters of Science degree from Miami University.

Jim Boone is an experienced Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Board Director.  His deep expertise enables him to assist senior management and boards to define and identify leadership qualities that drive operating excellence.  Jim is adept at understanding the nuances of culture as the driving force in a company’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain top talent.  He has extensive experience in growing both multinational and entrepreneurial technology, service, and other human capital intensive businesses.  Jim’s specialties include: CEO Assessment, Board Governance, Executive Search, Change Management, Talent Development, Multinational Leadership Development, Operations Management, and Turnarounds.

At Volt Information Sciences, Inc., a $1.5+ billion company offering specialized talent and technology solutions through 12 independent business units, Jim was charged with driving positive change.  As a divisional CEO, and Advisor to the founding family CEO, he provided ongoing, in-depth analysis of operations in various divisions across the U.S. as well as in India and Uruguay. Jim’s divisional leadership significantly improved operations and bottom-line performance.

As President and CEO at Impellam Group North America, a nearly $300 million organization comprised of staffing solutions and managed services, Jim engineered a major turnaround of this ailing business. He analyzed the existing operations, and created and implemented a business plan that put a new senior management team in place and restructured the company into specialized business sectors and geographic regions.  These actions resulted in a rapid return to strong profitability and positive cash flow.

Previously, he spent nearly two decades with two of the largest global executive search firms.  As Chairman, Global Operating Committee, and President, Americas Region of Korn Ferry International, he led the organization to record revenue and profits, with regional revenue approaching $400 million and profits exceeding $70 million.  Jim also served as Senior Executive Search Partner and member of the Global Executive Committee at Heidrick & Struggles.  Early in his career, he held senior leadership and management positions with Digital Equipment Corporation and Honeywell, Inc.

Jim currently serves on the boards of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Atlanta Chapter, and the University of Louisville College of Business and Public Administration (board of advisors).  He has previously served on the boards of Volt Information Sciences, Inc. (NYSE MKT: VISI), Pearson Partners International, the Technology Association of Georgia, Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  He had been featured in numerous national print and broadcast media.   Jim graduated magna cum laude from the University of Louisville.

Emily Carifa

KNOWLEDGE MANAGER, HEAD OF RESEARCH

With Mattson and Company, Ms. Carifa leads all  research, specializing on C-Suite and Board of Directors searches.  Her executive search experience includes the financial services, industrial, technology and consumer products areas.  She has worked personally on many searches with Ms. Mattson over the course of her 19-year career.

Ms. Carifa began her career in New York with London-based search firm Norman Broadbent before becoming a Research Associate at Heidrick & Struggles International.  She quickly assumed a pivotal role as Knowledge Manager and Researcher, she worked with Gayle Mattson in helping create the Board and CEO Practice.  She relocated to London to continue her career with Heidrick & Struggles, focusing on Financial Services as an associate.  Ms. Carifa was later recruited to join two former Heidrick Partners to assist in starting a new executive search venture.  In 2000 Ms. Carifa joined Korn/Ferry International as European Knowledge Manager, a newly created position.  She was responsible for managing and organizing and all research activities across Europe.  She created a transparency among the Partners and Associates, which enabled the search process to move more quickly and seamlessly.  

In her most recent years as a freelance recruiter, Ms. Carifa has been instrumental in assisting Partners, such as Ms. Mattson, build their C-Suite and Board of Directors Practices.  She has assisted in the recruitment of U.S. and International Chief Executive Officers to Fortune 500 Boards.  Representative board assignments included McGraw-Hill Companies, Cott Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., Dow Jones & Company, and Manpower.  Additionally, she has been a significant part of the search process in several Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer assignments for Fortune 100 companies, including Campbell Soup Company, Manpower, and Cott Corporation.   Emily graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, CT and Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Italian.  She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three young children.  

Amy Kirkpatrick

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Amy Kirkpatrick is a Senior Associate at Mattson and Company, supporting business development and executive level, C-suite and Board of Director searches. She brings over 25 years of business development, market research, and corporate finance experience, specializing in consumer products, retail, hospitality and commercial real estate for Fortune 500 companies and boutique firms. Ms. Kirkpatrick began in executive search with a tenure at Korn Ferry in New York City where she supported C-suite and Board of Director searches within the financial services and consumer products industries. She provided research to the Managing Director and Senior Client Partners to support the search, assessment and development process.

Prior to joining Mattson and Company, Ms. Kirkpatrick spent 13 years at Ralph Lauren Corporation in New York City corporate offices in Investor Relations, Corporate Finance and Business Development. As Director of Investor Relations, she managed all aspects of IR policies, objectives and initiatives, and ensured the senior leadership team was properly prepared for all industry and investor conferences, meetings and events. Instrumental to her role was developing and maintaining strong relationships with key sell-side research analysts, institutional investors and colleagues throughout the apparel retail sector. Prior to Investor Relations, Ms. Kirkpatrick worked in Corporate Business Development, supporting special projects for senior management within the organization and held leadership roles such as managing industry research of the apparel, home and accessories businesses and the development of global brand P&L analysis for a $8B revenue business.

Ms. Kirkpatrick began her career working in commercial real estate throughout the midwest with firms such as Highwoods Properties, a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT), based in Raleigh, North Carolina; and The Laramie Company, a boutique retail brokerage firm based in Denver, Colorado. Both companies specialize in mixed-use, high end retail, entertainment, and urban development. She held Marketing and Leasing Associate roles to support negotiations and procurement of high-end retail and entertainment centers and worked closely with executive offices and senior leasing executives. Ms. Kirkpatrick has a Master of Business Administration from University of Exeter in the UK and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Drake University. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and three children.

Michael Barriere, PhD

AFFILIATE CONSULTANT
CO-HEAD, GMiQ

Former McKinsey partner and Chief HR / Talent Officer spanning multiple industries (aerospace, nuclear, education, banking, Insurance, retail and consulting), and Fortune 100 companies (Walmart, Alcoa, NY Life, Citigroup, Northrup Grumman). Mike knows how to build the talent and leadership capabilities that enable global businesses to create value and increase profitability. For 30+ years, he has combined the formulation and execution of innovative growth initiatives with a disciplined process for increasing the number of exemplary performers in critical value driving roles.

Mike’s current consulting focus is on linking talent to drive business outcomes. His areas of expertise include: human resources, executive leadership, succession planning, workforce capabilities, talent assessment and strategy. As a Value Coach, he works closely with Boards, CEO's and Executive Teams, both public and private, to align their business strategy and investment thesis with the right talent, operating model and personal leadership to optimize value creation.

Previously, Mike led McKinsey’s global platform for linking talent to value for five years, where he oversaw the alignment of top teams with their value agendas, and the identification and staffing of critical roles with best fit talent at over 50 companies.

While serving as Chief Talent Officer for Walmart, Mike coached and advised high-potential executives and accelerated the development of the top 100 NextGen leaders, enabling the enterprise’s business strategy, while effectively improving the slate of “ready now” candidates for the top 50 critical roles. As CHRO at Alcoa, he developed and applied predictive analytics that linked the compensation of executives to employee engagement, diversity, workplace safety, and sustainability goals. As Senior VP of HR at New York Life Insurance, he prepared the company for entering into more complex business markets by designing and implementing a talent assessment and planning process that closed key gaps in the top 100 critical roles. In various senior executive positions at Citigroup, including that of CHRO for Citi Private Bank, Mike translated factors that differentiate top-tier performance in critical roles into competency-based processes which became the criteria for talent selection, development and rewards that were lauded across the global Citi organization for their impact on the bottom line. Early in his career, Mike created an assessment process for determining critical business success factors and leadership practices for PepsiCo, which drove their talent acquisition, development, and retention strategies.

Mike holds an MBA from UPenn-Wharton, a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University, and a B.S. in Engineering Science (Hofstra), as well as certifications in executive coaching (ICF, Newfield Network).

Mary Schmeltzer

CONSULTANT
CO-HEAD, GMiQ

With almost 30 years of experience in executive search, business transformation consulting, and technology operations and finance, Mary Schmeltzer is a seasoned professional known for her strategic vision and operational excellence.

Ms. Schmeltzer began her executive search career at Heidrick & Struggles, where she gained extensive experience in financial services, consumer products operations, general counsel and board searches. In addition to her search expertise, she managed the operations of Heidrick & Struggles' New York office. Following her tenure at Heidrick, Ms. Schmeltzer joined Bialecki Inc., a boutique executive search firm specializing in high-level financial services searches.

After relocating to London, Ms. Schmeltzer worked with Whitehead Mann, where she oversaw operations and finance. Earlier this year, she began collaborating with Ms. Mattson on a range of C-suite assignments.

In addition to her executive search experience, Ms. Schmeltzer spent 15 years consulting on business transformation projects. She has restructured and rationalized businesses in the technology, consumer products and financial services industries, leading project management teams through successful implementations and alignment with strategic goals. She has also managed M&A transactions from due diligence through post-merger integration in operations, finance and HR.

Prior to joining Ms. Mattson, Mary served as a partner in a technology consulting firm, where she managed senior management teams in finance, operations, legal, corporate governance and human resources. She fostered collaboration across various international locations and technology businesses. She also successfully relocated businesses in the US and the UK, planning and project-managing office buildouts in New York and London. Mary qualified as a CPDPM in London, certifying her to manage construction projects in the UK. 

Ms. Schmeltzer received a BS degree from the University of Minnesota. She is an active member of the Reform Club in London, the Association of International Women Malta and is working to establish a Directors Institute of Malta. She also volunteers for the Royal British Legion, Malta branch. In London, she was a Board member of Facing the World, a charity providing healthcare to children born with disabling facial deformities.

Richard Stein

CO-HEAD, GMiQ

Richard is a Co-Head of GMiQ, with a distinguished career focused on supporting C-Suite executives in global financial services organizations.

He is recognized as a top advisor in talent acquisition, development, and retention across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Richard’s expertise spans banking, wealth management, risk, and capital markets. Throughout his career, he has led search and competitive intelligence assignments for major corporations, investment banks, hedge funds, asset managers, and alternative investment firms worldwide.

Richard is driving innovation in human talent management through GMiQ’s proprietary technologies, integrating research and recruiting for strategic advantage. His approach includes real-time intelligence gathering via a unique talent acquisition platform and original primary research with market leaders on trends, challenges, key performers, and competitor benchmarking.

Previously, Richard served as Chief Growth Officer at The Options Group and held senior leadership roles at Caldwell Partners and Sheffield Haworth. He founded Futures International in 1999, leading it through a merger with Whitney Group until 2003, and later served as Senior Client Partner at Korn/Ferry International.

Hazel Oatey

CONSULTANT

Hazel Oatey has worked across the global executive search industry for over two decades and has successfully delivered a broad range of searches ranging from VP, SVP, Director through to the C-Suite. Her experience spans global markets and multiple industries. She is regarded as a trusted advisor by clients and candidates and is respected for having exceptionally high standards and deep knowledge of the industry. Hazel is known for her engaging style, thorough, diligent approach to client service and authentic commitment to diversity. With proven competence in talent assessment, executive recruitment and business leadership experience.

Hazel has an impeccable track record in all aspects of the talent acquisition life cycle. She has been responsible for accelerating the revenue and brand of organizations for whom she has advised and worked. In addition to recruitment and assessment, she has also provided competitive intelligence management scans, management and cultural assessments, benchmarking and succession planning, market sentiment analysis and compensation analytics and advisory.

Hazel has been global talent acquisition manager for a leading global consultancy focused on treasury risk and technology and has led her own consulting practice since 2003. Previous roles include senior research roles at Korn/Ferry and Futures International. Hazel is SHL, WAVE and MBTI qualified