Insights

Thought leadership, news, and events from RSR Partners.

Asset Management
How to Develop Successful Education Programs for Multi-Generational Family Business Owners
The success and longevity of family-owned businesses is often credited to the level of engagement of the family members in the business, the investment and management of the family’s wealth, or both. As a boutique executive search and board governance firm that specializes in championing the unique connection between family-owned businesses and family offices and advising family leadership on talent development and strategy, we at RSR Partners have observed what it takes for families to grow and transition their businesses and wealth from generation to generation. While every family is unique in their makeup, values, and culture, we have recognized a few themes that contribute to high engagement among family members. We are pleased to present this series of blog posts that summarize some of the topics and ideas we have discussed with our clients. Key to high engagement is an education program that appeals to multiple generations, includes a philanthropy component, and weaves a talent development strategy throughout the curriculum. Developing such a program can be a challenging and onerous task. For those of you with this important responsibility, we hope this guidance will be helpful.
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Insights
RSR Partners Deepens Bench with Eric Douglas Keene
Chicago, IL., August 3, 2021 – RSR Partners, a leading board and executive search firm, has announced that Eric Douglas Keene has joined the firm’s Board & CEO Services practice as a Managing…
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Insights
An Insider’s Guide to CEO Succession
Much has been written and debated about CEO succession. Boards are increasingly concluding that the full weight of succession planning rests squarely on their shoulders, which leads to the critical question that every board must answer: promote from within or search externally? Executive search and consulting firms are often engaged to help boards resolve this complex situation, but the inclination to conduct a search may sometimes be premature. Having completed over 1,000 assignments for boards and CEOs over the course of almost three decades, we wanted to share a few observations that will help you plan for the selection of your next CEO.
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Insights
Perspectives from the Chair: Leading Through Influence
confluence of issues confronting organizations and their boards today is now landing on the doorsteps of Chairs of Nominating & Governance Committees. More than 25 recent interviews revealed that it is now key for Nominating and Governance Chairs to “lead with influence” in order to effectuate change.
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Insights
How the Role of the CEO Has Changed Since COVID
The COVID crisis interrupted what was likely to be an unprecedented movement at the CEO level in 2020. January 2020 set a record in the US for the most CEO departures in one month (219 according to the Business Insider), setting pace to eclipse 2019 when a staggering 1,640 CEOs left their positions worldwide (according to Challenger, Gray, & Christmas). However, when the extent of the COVID crisis unfolded, many of our clients paused sweeping changes at the CEO level in order to exhibit stability and trust to their shareholders, customers, and to their employees.
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Asset Management
The Quest for Venture Talent
rofessionals with established relationships in the venture community. Going forward, we anticipate that this demand will continue to grow, especially as venture funds’ dry powder is at historic levels.
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Insights
Perspectives from the Chair: Agents of Change
A confluence of issues confronting organizations and their boards today is now landing on the doorsteps of Chairs of Nominating & Governance Committees. More than 25 recent interviews revealed that Chairs are leading the conversations and actions around hot topics such as DE&I, ESG, and board effectiveness and governance, and acting as agents of change for their organizations and boards.
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Insights
Four Trends to Watch Impacting Boards & CEOs
2020 has been a year of unprecedented change and reinvention. We have been honored to work alongside so many of you, helping you navigate these tumultuous times as successfully as possible. Effective leadership in the C-Suite and at the board level has never been more important, and the discreet advisory work we perform for Boards and CEOs has surged in response. We have spent many hours engaging with you on topics such as achieving agility; the emotional intelligence and moral quotient of leaders; the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equality initiatives; deploying technology, AI, and virtual work environments; managing risk; and addressing environmental, social, and governance concerns. Some of these topics were discussed at length during the roundtables we hosted earlier this year, and we expect to tackle these topics again at our 20th Annual Directors Dinner in January 2021. In the meantime, we wanted to share with you some additional trends that have emerged during the last few months that we expect will continue to evolve in 2021.
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Insights
An Insider’s Guide to Diversity Board Recruiting
In the past, public company boards aimed for their members to be diverse in experience, expertise, age, ethnicity, gender, and geography. Over the past several years, the concept of diversity has become more dynamic. Today, the purpose of a diverse board is to ensure that there are diverse perspectives providing input on the issues confronting the company. To achieve this, boards need to be inclusive (which should be a measure of diversity) so all voices are heard, are connected, and there is a sense of belonging.
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Insights
Boardroom Actions in a VUCA World
Few would argue that we are now living in a VUCA world. The acronym was coined by the U.S. Army in the 1990’s to describe the post-Cold War world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous). When external and unforeseen forces, such as a national emergency and the COVID-19 pandemic, cause a misalignment in an organization, boards and CEOs must rapidly adapt their strategy, processes, and people, around the evolving needs of their customers. Organizations that are agile and able to respond quickly will be primed to outmaneuver their competition and create a new future in which they can survive and thrive.
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