About Us
We are a values-based company with purpose dedicated to helping organizations and leaders at key and transformational times in their journey. We build boards and help Selection Committees attract, assess, select and appoint their new Chief Executive Officers and senior executive team members. We are passionate about helping our clients grow their businesses by ensuring the right leadership and expertise are appointed while providing essential due diligence and decision-making support to their Selection Committees. We also support leaders by designing and developing their own next chapter in their own CEO, executive or board career.
Arlington Partners is led by Lisa Heidman, LL.B., ICD.D, together with a group of more than 25 Partners, Arlington Board Advisors and Alliance Partners, each with extensive private sector, non-profit, and public sector experience. The team at Arlington Partners has decades of combined executive search, coaching, leadership development, senior executive and board advisory experience. We have broad business expertise and have held senior executive and board leadership positions within North America’s leading organizations.
We have a collective and rich history of leading and advising global organizations, iconic Canadian companies and entrepreneurial start-ups across sectors, as well as non-profits, academia, healthcare and government entities on how to effectively tackle a wide range of strategic organizational, business, governance and leadership challenges. We help drive transformational company agendas forward and ensure a company’s continued business growth. We also advise and support high profile leaders by designing and developing their own next chapter in their CEO, senior executive and board career.
WE ARE DIVERSITY LEADERS
We are proud champions of diversity of thought around both board and senior executive tables. We are well known for actively supporting the board and career paths of senior executive women leaders in Canada and the United States. When building boards and exceptional executive teams, we are committed to ensuring diversity in all its forms, and to making certain that a robust set of competencies and complementary skill sets, exceptional personal qualities and characteristics are identified. We work to ensure that the right people are appointed to join your board, because they have the required abilities and business experience to drive the growth of your business and they are diversity candidates.
WE BELIEVE IN INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
We are a company with purpose that attracts and supports transformational leaders who are able to effectively take a business to its next level of possibility. We excel at developing strategy, conducting rigorous assessment and providing exceptional service with meaningful frameworks for analysis, as well as decision-making support, equally and transparently to both clients and candidates alike.
We believe in inspirational leadership and providing a network that connects and empowers Board, CEO and Senior Executives globally, helping them reach new heights for their businesses and organizations, and to continue to realize their own potential as leaders. We also believe in the power of mentoring at all levels, and in making a mark and a difference by ‘paying it forward’ to others by sharing best practices and learnings within these communities.
Insights for Corporate Canada
Achieving diversity of thought on both executive and board tables is important for all Canadian businesses. For corporate Canada seeking to create more diversity for its own boards, the way of doing this and the how of accomplishing it, really matters. Have the courage to reassess and evaluate the talent on your own board. Assess term limits to provide opportunity for board renewal. Challenge the way your board selection processes have been done in the past. Embrace the business case for diversity. Be clear on what and whom you need and why to drive your business. Go beyond the discussion of ‘we need a woman or a diversity candidate to join our board’, and/or just the ‘ticking of the box’ for regulatory disclosure purposes. Expand your definition of diversity beyond gender or ethnicity to a much broader definition of achieving diversity of thought around your executive and board tables. Run a strategic selection process to seek diversity of thought on your board, which by clear objective and definition, includes and ensures women and diversity candidates are engaged and considered. Partner with a trusted executive search firm to help you lead the search process and build clarity on the required competencies, leadership skills and professional experience required to achieve your business objectives. This broad outreach communicates transparency to the market and also ensures that you have completed the necessary due diligence to support your effective decision making.
Build a framework beyond a basic skills matrix that also assesses leadership and culture fit with your board. Ensure your board profile is clear in accountabilities and compelling in opportunity to ensure you attract and engage the broadest pool of candidates for consideration. Post your board profile and advertise the opportunity so there is further transparency to your process. Rigorously assess as a Selection Committee both ‘who you know’ and ‘who you don’t know’, simultaneously, through this process and against these clear competencies. Appoint the right people to join your board, because they have the required abilities and business experience to drive the growth of your business and they are diversity candidates.
The Magazine
We are a company that celebrates success. Success in business, in vision and in leadership. Our Arlington Advisory Board, Leadership Team and Alliance Partners write about business cases which provide insight and, we hope, inspiration for other companies and leaders.
ARLINGTON is an annual magazine distributed globally to our network providing thought leadership and insights into key business, strategy and governance issues. It highlights leaders who are making an inspirational mark and difference in their industry sectors, organizations and communities on both sides of the border and beyond.
Our Team
ARLINGTON PARTNERS ADVISORY BOARD
ARLINGTON PARTNERS LEADERSHIP TEAM
ARLINGTON PARTNERS ALLIANCE PARTNERS
Our Services
BOARD, CEO, LEGAL AND
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEARCH
The team at Arlington Partners has personally led some of the most challenging, innovative and complex Board, CEO, Legal and Senior Executive Search assignments in North America. Arlington Partners provides board, functional and sector expertise and insights to our clients and candidates, as we have, and do sit on the other side of the table and have hired these firms ourselves. Arlington’s innovative process and integrated approach to senior executive search and assessment connects competencies to business strategy, to culture and to the desired executive leadership experience and skills our clients require and need at a very specific time in their business growth. Collectively, Arlington Partners provides Senior Executive Search services in the following functional and sector areas, among others:
- Financial Services, Insurance and Private Equity
- Legal and Professional Services
- Academia
- Healthcare
- Innovation, Technology and Research
- Non-Profit Associations, Foundations and Organizations
- Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods
- Loyalty and Data Analytics
- Manufacturing, Industrial and Distribution
- Food Services
- Energy, Mining and Natural Resources
- Media, Culture, Arts and Entertainment
- Sports Organizations and Associations
- Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences
- Real Estate
- Founder-led Entrepreneurial businesses
- Start-up, Hypergrowth Pre-IPO businesses
- Board of Directors, Board of Governors, Advisory Councils
- Chief Executive Officer, Executive Directors
- General Counsel, Legal, Governance and Compliance Leaders
- Chief Human Resources Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Leaders
- Chief Philanthropy Officers
- Chief Marketing Officers
- Chief Information, Security, Infrastructure, Technology Officers
- Chief Operating Officers
Further, Arlington Partners leads searches for senior functional leaders reporting into the senior above executive roles.
TALENT MANAGEMENT AND
BOARD ADVISORY SERVICES
Arlington’s Board Advisory and Talent Management Practice is all about possibility and opportunity for organizations and for leaders. Led by Lisa Heidman, our practice is focused on providing board advisory services and supporting the individual and unique needs of Board Directors, C-Suite and Diversity leaders.
Board, Corporate and Firm Advisory: As strategic advisors, Arlington Partners provides a comprehensive range of board advisory and custom consulting services for organizations and individual leaders. Our clients trust us to objectively provide these programs, guidance and coaching support. For boards and organizations these include programs and guidance on organizational development and design, succession planning, governance, diversity, board and senior executive compensation.
It includes facilitating sessions within board retreats to support competency-based board and diversity initiatives; actively leading and moderating corporate and firm panels on issues of diversity and board best practices; and leading our engaging 'How to Get on Boards’ sessions in interactive group, firm and corporate settings.
Board and Executive Talent Management Program: Our personal and popular Board and Executive Talent Management Program is dedicated to supporting the board and executive careers of exceptional leaders. We work with the 'who’s who' on both side of the border, each highly networked and successful Board Chairs, Board Directors, CEO’s and up-and-coming board and executive talent, including a wide range of diversity leaders in every sector, that you should know, and will know.
We are particularly interested in working with transformational leaders who are not remotely done yet and are interested in proactively developing their next board and executive chapters.
Arlington’s Board and Executive Talent Management Program is designed to 'get you in the driver seat' of your own board and executive career. It includes one-on-one coaching with four experts in their fields, over four modules, each dedicated to developing and designing your own board and executive portfolio. Arlington’s Talent Management Program provides the opportunity to reflect as to what brings you joy and where you can add the most value and to whom it might matter. It’s strategic, inspirational and pragmatic.
It pivots your executive resume, board and LinkedIn profile from where you have been, to where you want to go. It includes providing the framework for board, company, organizational and network mapping. It includes Arlington’s board and executive competency self-assessment, which gives you the lens and insight into what Board and Executive Selection Committees actually consider when making their appointments – all while providing the talking points unique to you for cover letters, interviews and networking meetings. It also provides the communication and interviewing support, in person and on film, to develop your executive and board brand. All to authentically communicate who you are, and how you can add value, now and for your many chapters ahead.
CHRO AND HUMAN CAPITAL
CONSULTING PRACTICE
Arlington’s CHRO and Human Capital Consulting practice is led by Laura Dunne and focused on improving the effectiveness of HR Strategy, HR functions, CHROs, organizations and their Boards. We collaborate with our clients to understand their business – strategically, operationally, and culturally. In that context, we identify the strategy, structure, talent, and governance opportunities to enhance performance.
Our Human Capital team brings decades of experience as CHROs, Board Directors, and retained HR advisors.
Human Resources Strategy and CHRO Advisory: We help organizations align their business and HR strategies. To effectively transform and thrive, organizations need a clear understanding of the organization capabilities required to deliver their strategy. Arlington’s facilitated HR strategy co-creation process leverages our team’s expertise, our clients’ expertise, and the input of key stakeholders.
As experienced CHROs, Arlington’s Human Capital advisors often work directly with CEOs when interim CHRO expertise is required. In addition, we work 1:1 with newly appointed and incumbent CHRO’s to provide an objective overall perspective and specific guidance on key HR initiatives.
Human Resources Transformation: We facilitate HR transformation. The Arlington team brings expertise and confidence to guide the identification of the HR structure and operating model that will support an organization’s long-term success. We partner with our clients to ensure their HR function can flawlessly and efficiently deliver on core HR operations while ensuring capacity for strategic HR projects and business transformation initiatives. We leverage our own CHRO and HR advisory experience to develop innovative, customized HR structures that draw upon the right combination of specialist functions, shared services, HR technology and analytics, and HR outsourcing. Our solutions drive HR transformation and the engagement and alignment of HR team members.
Broad Based Organization Design and Transformation: We help businesses transform. With an eye on operational excellence and agility, we partner closely with business leaders to identify organization structure changes that will fuel transformational change. Taking time to understand our clients’ past achievements and future aspirations, we develop a roadmap for structural change that can reduce cost, drive growth, strengthen short- and long-term performance, and enhance culture. We ‘go beyond drawing organization charts’ and create innovative structure solutions that are supported by talent and change management plans that minimize disruption and accelerate adoption.
Board Governance and Effectiveness: We help Boards enhance their effectiveness. Whether focused on their overall governance mandate or the HR mandate, we partner with Boards to define their role, assess their impact, and develop practical strategies to improve. Working collaboratively with Board Chairs, Committee Chairs, and Board Directors, we leverage our experience as CHROs, Board Directors, and Board Committee Chairs to bring practical, best-in-class practices to Boards in all sectors.
LEADERSHIP COACHING AND
ADVISORY SERVICES PRACTICE
Arlington’s Leadership Coaching and Advisory Services Practice is led by Lucy Vasic and focused on the unique needs of C-Suite leaders and Board Directors. We provide tailored coaching and advisory services that enhance the effectiveness of senior leaders and support them throughout their leadership journey—when integrating into a new role or organization; when making strategic decisions to drive or respond to organizational change; when developing leadership capability; or when addressing key career and personal issues related to legacy and purpose.
Arlington’s Executive Coaches leverage decades of experience and leadership insight and serve as advisors to boards, leadership teams and individual senior executives. Regardless of one’s stage in the leadership lifecycle, we offer bespoke solutions to best serve our clients’ needs.
New Role Leadership Transition Coaching: Embarking on a new leadership role is a pivotal time for both the leader and the organization. Leaders are faced with new environments, relationships and expectations and their ability to navigate quickly and effectively has lasting effect. Our premier coaches and proprietary process provides leaders with not only the framework to evaluate their goals and impact at set intervals, but also enables ongoing reflection and inquiry, taking into account the unique complexities of the role, organization and environment.
Leadership Coaching: Arlington’s leadership coaching starts with a clear understanding of the desire and readiness for coaching, including objectives for both the Leader and Sponsor. While the overall goal for coaching is to develop leadership capacity in the organization to execute against the strategic priorities, each leader will have unique business and personal goals that will shape their coaching programs. Arlington’s coaching process is designed to empower leaders with the mindset and behaviours needed to achieve their desired outcomes.
Career Coaching: We strategically guide clients through the process of clarifying and articulating their unique service offering, identifying where they will be most valued in the marketplace and provide timely advice throughout as clients pursue what’s next for them, whether it is a corporate, professional services, entrepreneurial, non-profit, board service and/or consulting role. Our unlimited coaching is customized and based on the unique, immediate and long term needs of our clients.
Legacy and Purpose Coaching: Legacy and Purpose Coaching is critical for leaders when evaluating their exit strategy, as it ensures the successful transition for the leader, the successor and the organization. Our senior advisors and coaches work with your most senior leaders to ensure they have a strong personal and professional plan that nurtures their legacy, enables succession and transfer of knowledge and relationships, and builds confidence for the next chapter.
We're Inspired
We really love and care about what we do and our work in every way truly reflects that.Who Retains Us
Our work is rich, multi-leveled and layered. Arlington Partners may be retained initially to help a Selection Committee find their new CEO, then work to attract new talent to a senior leadership team that can support that new CEO in executing or developing the company’s new strategic plan, followed by a mandate to build or supplement a board of directors best suited to take the organization to its next level.
Sometimes we build the board first and then work to find additional transformative leaders on its executive team to drive the growth of the company. Our work can be in anticipation of a merger or acquisition, or immediately following such activity. Other times, it’s a mandate to attract key business leaders required to drive critical company results in an essential area of the business. Alternatively, it can be a full turn around mandate. We can be retained to build an entirely new board from the ground up, or be brought into an organization with a view to ensure diversity at all levels of the business. Sometimes it’s advising a Board Chair on their own next steps, or how to design and develop a board that reflects the diversity of the business and the community they so proudly serve.
Arlington Partners is retained by Board Chairs, Chairs of Selection Committees, CEOs, General Counsels, CHROs and senior executive leaders, who are very well networked, confident and good at what they do. Their organization is in good shape but it’s time for the company to move forward and ‘get to great’ on a national or global scale. They are seeking diversity and some form of transformational or strategic change on their board or in their business. They are seeking a partner to lead them through a process that they know is needed and have concluded that they are better to do it together with Arlington’s support and guidance than to undertake it on their own. They want engagement of their team, their stakeholders and meaningful on-boarding support and programs for their senior executive or new board member. Yes, it’s about finding a new leader for the business, but by working with Arlington Partners our clients achieve that and so much more.
We are also retained by these senior executive and board leaders for their own board and career development. They are thinking about their next chapter but are seeking expertise and a process to determine the possibilities as well as the design, branding and marketing of that new vision.
Our clients and candidates alike choose Arlington because of who we are, and how we do what we do. They understand what Arlington Partners provides, and want it for their business, for their board, for their team and for themselves.
Our Value Proposition
Our innovative process and integrated approach to Board and Senior Executive Search and Assessment connects competencies to business strategy, to culture and to the desired board and executive leadership experience and skills our clients require. Providing an effective and comprehensive lens for assessment, Arlington truly partners with our clients using a high-touch approach to support effective decision making, diversity of thought and good governance.
OUR STRENGTH
Arlington’s core strength lies in our ability as advisors to understand, synthesize a wide range of organizational, business and governance issues, build essential buy-in and consensus among key decision makers and stakeholders, while simultaneously executing outstanding Board and Senior Executive Search for our clients. We also believe in transparency in the marketplace and setting the stage for transformational change from the outset. A core part of Arlington’s approach and process is the compelling telling of our clients’ stories to candidates and the broader market.
Core to our process at Arlington, we complete our due diligence and provide comfort for Selection Committees and Boards by assessing internal, internally known and external talent simultaneously, and always in partnership with our clients and their own networks. This ensures our clients have assessed all available talent and appoint not only the finest board directors and senior executives that are also the right board directors and senior executives for this particular time in the organization’s history.
Our strength is in our people. We are talented professionals that have come together in a uniquely collaborative culture for the sole purpose of delivering the highest standard of quality and professional service to our clients and candidates alike. In the true spirit of partnership, Arlington is an extension of our clients and each of our candidates. We are entrusted as your ambassadors in the marketplace. We understand how equally important this particular and transformational time is for each of you. We treat every interaction with professionalism, warmth and grace. That we are known for this level of delivery and service is demonstrated by the fact that 100 percent of our business comes through warm referrals and repeat satisfied customers and candidates.
