KornFerry: Celebrating Forty Years

I was the classic “passive” candidate back in 1999 – working in my 20th year in technology at Citigroup in New York City when Dan Demeter, Korn/Ferry’s CIO and former colleague at Citi, asked me to consider joining Korn/Ferry’s ITG team in Los Angeles. While the opportunity was exciting, I had lived on the East Coast my entire life and couldn’t picture myself in a place with palm trees, beach volleyball, and rollerblading. How could anyone work in a city designed for movie stars and vacations?

However, the more I learned about the job, the company and the people, the more interested I became. When I visited L.A. and met Dan’s team, I was impressed with their intelligence, dedication and camaraderie. I interviewed with a number of partners in the New York and Stamford offices, and had a breakfast meeting with Parker Harrell. Again, I was impressed with the degree of professional accomplishment and passion for excellence exhibited by all.

My first day with Korn/Ferry was May 8, 2000 and I have never looked back. I love the challenge of the job and the character of the company; and the California sunshine was not hard to get used to. It was a great decision professionally for me and personally for our family. My wife jokes that my “mid-life crisis” did not express itself in a Porsche or Harley, but in a new job, city, house and lifestyle.

Gary Burnison says that Korn/Ferry changes people’s lives. I know about that firsthand.