Archives for May 2026

Cornerstone International Group served as a Gold Sponsor of the AESC Global Summit on Leadership, held April 27-28 in New York City, with three senior leaders representing the firm among 55 member firms from 16 countries.

NEW YORK, NY. Cornerstone International Group (CIG) was a Gold Sponsor and active participant at the 2026 AESC Global Summit on Leadership, the flagship annual gathering of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants. The two-day Summit, held April 27-28 in New York City, brought together 55 member firms from 16 countries for sessions on AI, governance, succession, and the evolving role of human judgment in executive leadership.

Cornerstone was represented at the Summit by:

• Simon Wan, Chairman and CEO of Cornerstone International Group, who serves on the AESC Global Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the AESC APAC Governance Council.
• Dan Heiman, President of Cornerstone International Group, who serves on the AESC Americas Council.
• Laurie O’Donnell, Cornerstone Vancouver, and Chair of Executive Coaching – Global and on the CIG Membership Development – Global Committee

“This year’s Summit reflected a clear shift in the industry,” said Laurie O’Donnell of Cornerstone. “There was a changing energy in the room: more openness to discern fact from values, less self-promotion, less muscular marketing. The geography of the room allowed for small groups, and introductions were natural. And of course, the conversation kept returning to AI, where the message from one of the most perceptive and integrated leaders on stage was simple: the one aspect we are not close to replicating is human judgment. The responsibility is human.”

Key Themes from the Summit

The “human” element in AI-driven leadership. Across multiple sessions, speakers emphasized that technology should support, not replace, human judgment. Clients are increasingly seeking leaders who pair digital fluency with empathy, ethics, and emotional intelligence, and the Summit’s discussions placed those qualities at the center of effective executive selection.

The shortening CEO life cycle. Sessions explored the rising pressure on chief executives and the corresponding responsibility on Boards to think rigorously about who comes next. Speakers cautioned that a lack of attention to the Board itself, including its composition and engagement, can quietly undermine succession planning long before a CEO transition becomes visible.

Women in Leadership Breakfast with Jenny Jing Zhu. The well-attended session led by Jenny Jing Zhu addressed navigating bias and barriers, the distinction between sponsorship and mentorship and what women are actively doing to support other women, maintaining balance and resilience under pressure, and the importance of building and sustaining a strong professional network.

Cornerstone’s Role on the Global Stage

As a long-standing AESC member, Cornerstone International Group continues to take an active role in shaping the standards and direction of the executive search and leadership advisory profession. Simon Wan’s service on the AESC Global Board of Directors and Dan Heiman’s role on the AESC Americas Council reflect Cornerstone’s ongoing commitment to industry governance, ethical practice, and the elevation of leadership advisory globally.

“Being part of AESC, and supporting the Summit as a Gold Sponsor, is consistent with how Cornerstone has approached this profession since 1989,” said Simon Wan, Chairman of Cornerstone International Group. “The standards set by AESC, and the conversations that take place at this Summit, directly shape how we serve our clients and how the industry evolves.”

The Summit also offered Cornerstone partners the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and clients from across the AESC global network and to spend time in the art and culture of New York City between sessions.

About the AESC Global Summit on Leadership

About Cornerstone International Group

Cornerstone International Group is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 1989, with offices worldwide. Cornerstone is a member of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) and has been recognized by Forbes Media and Hunt Scanlon among the leading brands in executive search for delivery quality and execution. Cornerstone serves clients across industries including Life Sciences and Health, Industrial, Consumer, Technology, Aerospace and Defence, and Energy and CleanTech. Visit www.cornerstone-group.com.

The AESC Global Summit on Leadership is the flagship annual event of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants. The 2026 Summit, held April 27-28 in New York City, convened executive search firms, corporate decision-makers, and senior executives for two days of programming on leadership, governance, AI, and the future of the profession.

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Cornerstone International Group
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Johannesburg, South Africa — May 6, 2026 — Cornerstone, the world’s only global talent consulting group with dual headquarters in the U.S. and China, today announced the official opening of its Johannesburg office—a strategic hub to expand its retained executive search and Talent Advisory practice across South Africa and the broader African continent.

This milestone deepens Cornerstone’s footprint in South Africa, reinforcing its commitment to world-class leadership solutions in high-potential markets. Leading the new office is Paul O’Brien, an executive search specialist with over 14 years of experience across South Africa, the UK, Hong Kong, the UAE, and broader Africa. Cornerstone Johannesburg is committed to long-term local partnerships and contributing to the business community through collaboration, media engagement, and thought leadership.

“South Africa is a vital growth frontier where exceptional leadership drives resilience, scalability, and success. Our Johannesburg office marks a key global milestone, blending worldwide talent resources with on-the-ground African market intelligence. With Paul O’Brien leading our local operations, we deliver personalized, quality-driven leadership hiring that creates lasting value across the continent.”said by Simon Wan, Chairman and CEO.

Dan Heiman, Global President, added: “Johannesburg is the economic gateway to Africa, making it the ideal base to expand our regional presence and support our global goal of 100 offices worldwide. This new office cements Cornerstone as a go-to partner for building future-ready leadership teams across Africa.”

Paul O’Brien, Managing Partner of Cornerstone Johannesburg, said: “African businesses need resilient, commercially aligned leaders to thrive in complex, fast-changing markets. Our mission is to connect exceptional talent with ambitious organizations. By combining global reach with local insight, we deliver high-impact talent solutions that create lasting value for clients and candidates alike.”

From US/China to South Africa—Cornerstone International Group is deeply embedded in local business culture, and committed to global excellence: global standards, local relationships.