Topic: Reflections on 25 years in search – and how changes impact the job search

Speaker: John Koopman, Consultant, Spencer Stuart

Presentation:  
1. Search 25 years Ago

-       Un-respected profession

-       No Board search practice

-       Diversity is on the agenda

-       Generalists

2. Current situation

-       International firms/boutiques

-       Board practice

-       Diversity

-       Specialists

-       Impact of technology

-       Impact of covid 

3. How to Effectively Use Search Firms

-       Meet them all

-       Slim the resume

-       Every conversation is a good one

-       Why Top of Mind Matters

-       The Interview - Tips

Speaker's bio:  

John Koopman leads the Financial Officer Practice in Canada. His recruiting experience spans a broad spectrum of companies in the industrial, consumer and tech sectors. During his career, John has completed more than 500 executive officer and board level searches and helped place more than 250 senior finance leaders. He previously led the firm's Toronto office.

John is an active commentator and student of business and public policy issues. His articles have been printed in publications as diverse as the Globe & Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, MacLean's magazine, Journal of Commerce and Canadian Manager. He was also on the faculty of Webster University, where he taught a course on corporate strategy in the M.B.A. program.

Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, John spent eight years as an international strategy consultant, first for McKinsey & Co. in Amsterdam and later for Mercer Management Consulting. He led strategy projects in diverse industries, including airlines, railways, fashion, professional sports, chemicals, textiles, banking, and property and casualty insurance. At Mercer, he was the partner in charge of Canadian recruiting.

Earlier, John held senior sales and marketing positions at Mexx, an international clothing manufacturer and wholesaler. John began his career as a corporate and commercial lawyer in Calgary, Alberta, with Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer, one of western Canada's leading law firms. He is a member of the Law Societies of Alberta and Upper Canada.

A Queen's Jubilee award recipient, he received his L.L.B. from Queen's University in Kingston and received an M.B.A. (Honours) from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. He speaks English, French and Dutch.