Brindisi Search

Our background and history

Brindisi Search is an agile, boutique retained search firm with a focus on finding best-in-class human resource leaders able to drive change, transform outdated organizations and partner with business leaders to maximize the impact of human capital across their organizations.

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Since our beginnings in 1988, we have dedicated our efforts to the long- term success of our client firms. Founded and led by Thomas J. Brindisi, President, our firm has been an outspoken advocate for radical change and business competitiveness throughout our history.

We address critical HR needs, ranging from SVP and CHRO roles to functional and business unit HR leadership roles, usually at Director and VP levels. Brindisi Search has successfully completed senior level HR searches for many well-known corporations, often calling for the ability to lead dramatic transformation or to execute complex growth strategies. Our clients range across every industry, and vary in size from Fortune 50 giants to mid-cap hard-charging firms, PE portfolio companies, and innovative start-ups that rapidly exploded into multi-billion-dollar global businesses. Brindisi Search has aggressively participated in the evolution of American business and the “coming of age” for the human resources function, from the Jack Welch era through all phases of the ongoing corporate business transformation.

Our firm has delivered HR leaders adept in continuous improvement, re-engineering, and every iteration of total quality management, through today’s emphasis on agile and lean management approaches, and harnessing the latest technologies. Our deep focus on cultural fit, and our active collaboration with our clients, allow us to deliver the most powerful “human solutions” available in the marketplace. We continue to focus on identifying innovative, energetic HR leaders capable of guiding their organizations through radical change and sustained success. Results have always been, and continue to be our reputation.

Business Turnaround, Lean Management Restructuring
Midcap industrial heavy equipment manufacturing corporation, located in northeastern US, recently acquired by top-tier PE firm.

Our client, a prestigious New York based PE firm, had recently acquired this energy industry focused firm shortly before the broad energy, and oil & gas industry downturn.  Shortly after Brindisi Search had secured a talented HR Director to support the incumbent CHRO, turbulence hit the company with force.  Turnovers in the CEO and CHRO positions precipitated the ascension of a key internal SVP, Operations into the newly vacated CEO role.  Brindisi Search was then asked to conduct a rigorous search to identify a tenacious, dynamic SVP, HR to backfill the transitioning, incumbent CHRO. 

After developing a slate of three strong candidates, one particularly talented candidate rose to the top during the final assessment process.  The candidate had just completed a successful stint with another PE portfolio firm, which had been sold off, and displayed all the necessary attributes to rapidly assimilate with the executive team and drive lean powerful changes across the firm’s global locations.  Working to aggressively mitigate costs, re-direct industry customer focus, and re-build an archaic, unaccountable employee culture, the new SVP succeeded in helping lead this sinking business back to viability, while launching numerous cost saving initiatives.

With a re-invigorated executive team, several key acquisitions, new talent management and performance management processes, and changes in industry focus, this highly competitive and energetic HR leader has become a vital contributor to the resurgence of the company, helping fulfill the initial expectations of their NY based PE parent firm.

Transformation and business integration
Large regional diversified energy business in Mid-Atlantic area with multi-billion-dollar revenues and multiple business segments.

Brindisi Search was retained by recently hired Chief Operating Officer to lead the search for a newly defined role.  This entrepreneurial and forward thinking executive leader sought a VP of HR and Organization Development to drive a thoughtful, methodical change process across an organization with both regulated and deregulated businesses.

The intent was to blend diverse cultures without losing significant talent, over a multi-year transformation phase.  We were successful in finding a talented HR leader with wide ranging change management and HR leadership experience, gained in major corporations and within a top-tier global management consulting firm.  The outcome was highly successful and has led to greatly increased growth, a high-performance culture, repeated top industry accolades, and development of new deregulated energy businesses.  We also subsequently secured a talented Director of Organizational Development for this firm, who has subsequently moved into the CTO role after retirement of the VP/HR.  The visionary COO who originally engaged Brindisi Search is now Chairman and CEO of this dynamic conglomerate.

Focus - Dramatic Transformation
Fortune 50 global financial services and insurance corporation with over 50,000 employees and operations in more than 80 countries. One of the best-known names in the global financial services industry.

Brindisi Search was retained by this major corporation to work with the key VP/HR who was driving a major transformation and build-out for a global business unit of the corporation, with over 12,000 employees and operations in more than 50 countries.  This business was highly successful and the largest in its sector globally but suffered from an archaic and regressive HR infrastructure.  Much additional upside in growth and profitability could be gained by building an engaged HR team with the tools to develop the culture of this cash-cow division.

Our firm delivered two top talents in this aggressive change effort: 1. Director of HR and: 2. Director of Talent Acquisition.  Both leaders successfully created all new HR processes, systems, and organizational behavioral requirements which led to resurgent growth and a unified global culture.  Ultimately the business unit was acquired for over $15 billion by a major global financial services firms.  Both Directors subsequently moved into outside CHRO roles shortly after the sale.

Growth & Competition / Business Rationalization
Large global technology, engineering, and scientific services/consulting corporation with over 30,000 employees and $5 billion annual revenues, focused on both commercial and government markets, worldwide.

Brindisi Search was contacted to identify a talented VP/HR and Change Agent for the Eastern region of this dynamic, growing global technology consulting firm.  The long-term aim was to find a leader who could soon move into the executive CHRO leadership position as the incumbent moved toward retirement.  Many opportunities for growth and business optimization were anticipated along with increasing competition from a variety of similar businesses and major multi-industry power houses entering this space.

Our firm ultimately identified a top talent with background in major commercial industries and a desire to lead businesses with an entrepreneurial culture and innovative style.  Our HR leader quickly re-vamped internal HR structures and shared -service units to correspond to the business needs and demands.  This high energy HR executive competed for and won the CHRO role for the entire corporation, helping lead growth to over $11 billion in revenues and over 50,000 employees.

Influencing & Strategic HR Leadership
Small cap technology-driven industrial machinery design and manufacturing corporation, serving global commercial corrugated box market.

Our client was referred to Brindisi Search by a performance management consulting firm owner, who our firm had previously placed in a key, HR leadership role, decades ago.  The consultant had been working with this very innovative, design-driven manufacturing firm and saw a need for strong strategic HR leadership.  The company had previously deployed HR from an administrative and policy perspective and the returning former CEO now saw a need for a high-energy business partner to revamp the entire function and unlock the value of HR for this global business.

Brindisi Search identified a talented, entrepreneurial HR Director who worked within a large, matrixed technology and aerospace firm where he was marginalized by layers of management.  This new and challenging role , leading the deployment of a customized, business-focused HR organization, played perfectly to this high-energy HR executive’s skills and career goals.  Within two years this “new” Director had been promoted to the VP Administrative Services position. This HR visionary has been instrumental to the renewed expansion of this industry leading firm, while also helping engineer the move to much larger HQ and manufacturing facilities. The enhanced leadership role has provided the new VP with the opportunity to work with the board, and the strategic growth and planning processes for the firm.

When Radical Change Hits the Wall. ‘A Lesson in Contradictions’
Global leader in scientific, technical and medical publishing, with multiple divisions, headquartered in southeastern US

Brindisi Search was contacted by the CEO and Chairman of a large, multi-division global publishing corporation with over 15 dispersed and decentralized business units.  He had recently recruited a visionary COO, to help guide this sprawling scientific/medical global publishing leader through comprehensive changes.  The mission included turning the ‘holding company’ style HQ into an operating company, by integrating the disparate businesses into a coherent organization.  The other equally critical strategy involved taking this ‘paper print format’ global leader into the digital age by converting products and services into rapidly evolving digital formats, simultaneously educating the customer base to the coming industry transformation, while offering them the advantages and flexibility of new technology.

We partnered with the newly appointed COO, a top MBA with cutting-edge experience, and a desire to lead massive change, to identify a strategic, ‘operator style’ HR executive with a similar inclination to drive change across a traditional, but highly complex and successful corporation.

Brindisi Search secured a true high performer, with a rapidly developing leadership resume gained in a major global financial corporation.  The partnership between the COO and our new HR executive blossomed as they set about restructuring, flattening, and optimizing the far flung organization, while bringing in technology savvy talent to drive the organization-wide conversion to a digital world.  Progress was rapid and rewarding, and within a few years the previously decentralized, disconnected group of businesses had developed a strong, integrated identity, with a new technology profile.

Eventually, as long-term incumbent senior executives had become disturbed by the ‘threatening’ changes taking place, frustrating roadblocks began to be thrown into the path of these two dynamic operators leading the efforts.  After fruitless meetings with the Chairman and other executives, it became clear that the mission had drastically changed direction, and any attempt to continue the radical change effort would be met with firm resistance from above.

Shortly after this initiative-killing impasse developed, both new leaders decided to depart the organization, realizing that there was no longer a path forward.  The ‘take away’ is this:  in some cases, performance and success is trumped by individuals and relationships.  As a postscript, the former visionary COO, after next moving into an industry CEO role, later founded and continues to run a prosperous Private Equity firm.  The dynamic HR executive later became CHRO of a globally known group of start-up companies, all growing into large multi-billion-dollar, stand-alone global corporations.  He is now in a prominent, high visibility CEO role and continues to create great impact.

Fueling sub-culture innovation, while balancing organization-wide culture integration
Large regional health system with multiple divisions and acclaimed research center, located in the southeast.

Over a period of four years we assisted our client, a highly ranked ‘Fortune 100 award-winning’ health system, with close to 20,000 employees, and with a high performance/high collaboration business culture, in multiple key HR searches.  We were first asked to find an innovative HR Director with commercial and retail industry experience to work closely with the CEO of a rapidly growing, innovative medical division with numerous locations.

Key to this search was finding a high energy leader with exceptional change management skills and experience outside the healthcare industry, preferably in commercial or retail industry.  A unique sub-culture had been developing in this highly profitable division and the CEO wanted to enhance and replicate it across all its locations.  We were successful in finding a highly talented leader and change agent with a fast-moving, agile style.  The new director helped to reshape the division’s HR organization and to optimize the business, leading to ongoing streamlining, high growth, and financial success.

Several years later, Brindisi Search was asked to identify a highly experienced director to lead corporate compensation, with the long-term goal of heading the total rewards organization after a planned retirement of the incumbent leader.  Several key searches resulted from this evolving situation, as multiple retirements took place within a short period of time.  Our firm first secured a Director of Corporate Compensation to lead the organization-wide function, and its talented internal team.  Months later, we identified a highly skilled, deeply experienced senior leader to assume the total rewards corporate leadership position, reporting to the CHRO.  Both new leaders came in with a tremendous depth of for-profit and not-for-profit healthcare experience, and a dynamic, strategic approach to their roles.

The challenges ahead for the healthcare industry are many, and include addressing a hyper-competitive business landscape, and devising reward systems that are competitive and coherent across many widely varying business divisions, each displaying unique sub-cultures and talent profiles.  The HR organization continues to play a key role in leading the way for innovative business practices and managing change in this nationally admired, performance focused organization.

Business Growth, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development
High technology, cyber-security division of global technologies and communications firm with over 35,000 employees and $10 billion annual revenues.

A technology driven client of Brindisi Search, for whom we had previously placed several key HR functional leaders asked our firm to identify a technology savvy HR leader to take the place of the soon to retire SVP of HR.  This division with several thousand employees and over half billion dollars in revenues was led by a driven, entrepreneurial and innovative president with a history of growing businesses aggressively.

The need called for an executive leader with strong senior management coaching and development skills, and experience in a global technology consulting and services business using HR to drive growth and productivity.  Our finalist came in with top-tier experience in a large global technology consulting firm and additional background standing up HR in an innovative small defense and aerospace corporation.  This SVP helped lead the group to major expansion and revenue increases to over $1 billion.  Ultimately the division was sold at a significant premium so that proceeds could fuel parent company growth in other core business lines.

Brindisi Search

Our Leadership

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Tom Brindisi
President / Founder
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Thomas J. Brindisi is the president and founder of Brindisi Search, a boutique executive search firm dedicated to identifying and securing the most highly effective human resource business leaders in the marketplace. Mr. Brindisi has led executive searches across wide ranging industries, for publicly traded, private equity portfolio, and not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Brindisi has delivered senior HR leaders, nationally, from SVP and CHRO, to business unit VP and functional director levels, for some of the best-known organizations in America.

After more than a decade of corporate human resource leadership experience, spanning three industries, and later building an HR search division for a regional search firm, Mr. Brindisi launched Brindisi Search in 1988. Originally headquartered in Lutherville, Maryland, the firm was relocated to Naples, FL in 2013, and operates from that location.

Mr. Brindisi studied engineering at the University of Maryland, and also received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. Mr. Brindisi has presented at HR and business conferences, and has been frequently quoted in national business journals. He also previously served as president of a large regional executive search firm association in the mid-Atlantic region.
Brindisi Search was one of the first firms nationally to focus on high-impact, transformational human resources. Mr. Brindisi continues to promote the critical need for visionary, strategic HR leaders who can drive exceptional business performance. He currently resides in Naples, Florida with his wife, and has three grown sons.

A Personal letter to our clients and colleagues.

Dear Colleagues,

Running an executive search business for the past thirty years has been part serendipity and part destiny for me. When young, my need to understand what shapes human behavior, led to an early career in human resource management. Seeing an opportunity to work with the best in business and in the slowly awakening HR field, I founded Brindisi Search in 1988. Thousands of relationships later, and after countless learning experiences, I continue to be energized by the challenges in identifying the most exceptional HR talent in the marketplace. I also continue to be amazed at the impact they bring to the competitive, innovative businesses that have comprised our clientele.

I find great satisfaction in maintaining the many relationships built over the years, and in developing new bonds with the ever-growing stream of talented HR business leaders now taking on top corporate executive roles, and leading their firms to new heights. America is a culture of creativity and competition, and we relish the challenges that await us in the current business climate. I hope those new to Brindisi Search will develop a clear idea of who we are and what we do from this website. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. If I can help in any way, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thomas J Brindisi

Brindisi Search

Representative Clients

  • AIG / Alico
  • American Capital, Ltd.
  • American Diabetes Association
  • Amoco / BP
  • Bank of America
  • J.M. Huber Corporation
  • Johnson Controls
  • Jones Intercable
  • Keystone Foods
  • L-3 Stratis
  • Rouse Company
  • RTKL
  • Ryder
  • SAIC
  • SCM Chemicals, Inc.
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Brindisi Search

Testimonials

Tom came to my aid after a long period of using other search firms, recruiters, etc. to no avail. I was filling a critical leadership position on my team and looked at dozens and dozens of candidates. Tom didn't just take my requisition and say "let me see what I can do." Instead, he talked to me about the team dynamics, the roles and responsibilities of the position, and what type of person I was looking for...well he hit a grand slam!  I got an incredible person! Tom did a superlative job.

Stu Shea: President & CEO - Peraton

Previously: President & COO - Leidos | Previously: President & COO - SAIC

I've known Tom for over 25 years and have worked with him on both a professional and personal basis. Tom has filled positions for me and placed me in positions over that period of time. He is extremely knowledgeable about his profession and has a strong business perspective. He is excellent at sourcing and assessing candidates, determining organizational fit, and understanding his client's needs. The best two things about Tom are that he gets results and that he actually does what he says he is going to do! I would not hesitate to use or recommend Tom for search assignments at any level of the organization.

Bill Rothenbach: CHRO - Haines

Previously: SVP, HR - Colfax | Previously: SVP, HR - Fidelity Guaranty Life | Previously: VP, HR - J. M. Huber Corporation

Tom has been meticulous and professional in his approach, and has consistently produced the highest quality candidates that match both the technical skills for the role as well as the cultural fit for our organization. I would highly recommend him for your talent search needs.

Bob Batory: SVP, & CHRO - WellSpan Health

I have known Tom for over 20 years, and have worked with him in varying capacities, including as a client and as someone he has placed. Tom works hard, cares deeply about his clients and candidates, takes the time to truly understand each opportunity and situation and is a pleasure to work with. I admire Tom both as a professional and a person.

John Hoey: President & CEO at the Y in Central Maryland

Previously: SVP, Corporate Operations - Laureate Education | Previously: VP, HR - Citigroup

Tom was the primary outside executive recruiter that I used to hire senior Human Resource professionals when I was at Northrop Grumman, SAIC and L3. He did an excellent job at finding the very best HR professionals, particularly in the Washington, DC area. Many of the people he hired, are still with those companies today. .I wholeheartedly endorse him.

Richard Gregory

Previously: SVP, HR - L-3 STRATIS | Previously: VP, HR - SAIC

I had the opportunity to work with Tom when he recruited me for the senior Talent Management/Acquisition role at Alico/AIG. He was extremely professional and knowledgeable about his clients’ culture, infrastructure, operations and talent teams. He is a strategic thinker and effective communicator who gets results. I enjoy working with Tom very much.

Diane Dooley: SVP, Operations - Alliance (PE Owned Firm)

Previously: VP, HR - Marsh & McLennan Companies | Previously: VP, HR - Conner, Strong & Buckelow

I have known Tom for close to 20 years, and continue to be impressed by his insightfulness and uncanny “sixth sense” about people. Tom possesses the foundations needed for success in his field; he is immensely knowledgeable and professional. What truly sets him apart, however, is his ability to connect with and understand people in a way that leads to an employment match that is mutually beneficial to the employee and the employer.

Dori Ramsey: Chief Talent Officer - WGL Holdings / Washington Gas.

Previously: Director Corporate Education & Development - US Airways / American Airlines

I've known Tom for well over 20 years, both as a trusted colleague and as someone he has placed. I consider him at the top of the pyramid of retained search professionals, with an unmatched expertise in senior-level HR searches. He is personable, focused and diligent. I've never seen anyone work harder or more effectively to orchestrate a positive search outcome, both for the client and the individual placed. I would strongly recommend him to any organization that expects the highest levels of service, professionalism and trust in their search partners.

Sam Bresler

Previously: Regional VP, HR - Educational Management Corporation | Previously: VP, HR - SAIC, Western Region

I have been in the HR business for a long time and Tom is simply the best HR Executive Search Consultant that I have ever worked with. I have been placed by Tom, and he has also helped me find senior HR professionals for my staff. In all of my interactions with Tom he has always been insightful, honest and extremely professional. He asks meaningful questions, provides great insights into the company and people involved in the interview process and his feedback and follow-up skills are impressive. Tom has a sense of humor, an upbeat personality and make the search process an enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend Tom for any HR search assignment!

Rick Wilson: Director, HR - TMG Corp.

Previously: VP, HR - Centennial Contractors | Previously: VP, HR - SAIC

Tom Brindisi exemplifies the best of executive search when it is done correctly. I was fortunate as a candidate to meet Tom when he was conducting a search for an HR leader with global experience… Tom is relentless and exacting in his search for talent, as I came to understand, and he spared no effort to search far and wide until he found the candidate he believed best for his client (he found me 3,000 miles away). That persistence of effort, combined with his keen insight to client needs and judgment of candidate fit, literally changed the course of my career and resulted in the client enjoying great success. After being placed with the hiring organization, I was in a position to see how, time and time again, Tom was able to find the exact right new talent for us, speeding talent acquisition and ensuring a 'just right' fit of talent to our team. Our accelerated global growth could have crushed us without having the wise and reliable partnership of Tom who kept us supplied with executive talent that truly made a difference.

David Fox

Previously: Director, Strategic Talent Management – eGate, Shanghai | Previously: Director, Global HR & Talent Management - Prometric

I have had the pleasure of working with Tom over the past 10 years. His ability to bring a robust business and operational knowledge to the companies that he partners with is not only refreshing, but necessary in progressive organizations. Tom’s understanding of Human Resources as a business partner, that drives operational excellence, puts him ahead of his peers, and I have seen first hand that Tom is not your typical consultant but rather a true partner with your organization.

Greg Ford: HR Business Partner - W.R. Grace

Previously: Director, HR - Honeywell Technology Solutions

Tom has been a valued partner for a number of years. I trust his expertise and his knowledge of the industry and greatly respect the track record of results that he has achieved. Tom listens well, is very action-oriented and always has plans 'C' and 'D' in his backpocket just in case plans 'A 'or 'B' hit a bump in the road.

Sean Sullivan: HR Executive & Vice President - Tufts Medical Center

Previously: SVP,HR - Leidos | Previously: VP, HR - SAIC

I have had the pleasure to work with Tom on HR searches and can say without hesitation that he is a consummate professional, with the ability to think out of the box on candidates and provide perspective on selecting the best candidate. He has always been to the point, open, candid and works through all phases of a search, much different than my experiences with larger firms.

Robert Laggini

Previously: VP, HR Services - NASD/ FINRA | Previously: SVP, HR - Euler Hermes | Previously: SVP, HR – F&M Bancorp/PNC Bank

I have known Tom since my early career at Marriott International. He has been a terrific and trusted advisor. I have also appreciated his career guidance, counsel and insight.

Helena Light Hadley

Previously: CHRO at ARC | Previously: Former VP, L&D at Honeywell | Previously: VP, Staffing & Development – Marriott International

I have known Tom for over ten years as both a client who he has placed and an executive search partner for an opportunity at Alico. In both experiences, Tom was highly professional, deeply committed and exceptional in his ability to understand the needs of his clients and fulfill those needs expertly and timely. Tom is a genuine leader, exceptional HR practitioner and savvy business partner who has the ability to develop meaningful and valued relationships while delivering superior results.  I look forward to continuing my relationship with Tom.

Katie Johnson: VP, HR - Rand Worldwide

Previously: Director, HR - Ciena Corp | Previously: Director, HR – AIG, ALICO