CHICAGO and NEW YORK, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSII), the world's premier executive search and leadership advisory firm, has tapped partner Bonnie W. Gwin to lead its North American Board Practice, the company announced today.

"Bonnie has been way ahead of the curve in strategically expanding the composition of clients' boards to reflect the global needs of boards today," says John S. Wood, Heidrick & Struggles' Vice Chairman and Managing Partner of its CEO and Board Practice. "As one of Heidrick's leaders in board of director and CEO searches, she has been a champion of diversity and bringing more women and people of color into the boardroom. In this role and as a leader of some of our core strategic partnerships, such as with Women Corporate Directors, Bonnie has been instrumental in connecting our clients to the best emerging talent in the market."

"The corporate governance landscape is going to change rapidly and dramatically in the next 18 months," says Ms. Gwin, "with legislation and regulation that will significantly affect the composition of boards."

"We're seeing a strong interest in directors who have gone through very bumpy economies - who have experience and battle scars, and can bring breadth and a long perspective to a board. And diversity continues to be critical to boards, as companies seek diverse viewpoints, different experiences, and new skill sets. Since every company is looking for a competitive advantage and new perspectives, diversity intuitively makes sense. It's the best way to bring a lot of fresh thinking and different ideas to the boardroom."

During her more than 11 years with Heidrick & Struggles, Bonnie Gwin has held a number of leadership positions including serving as President of the Americas division. In addition, she has served as Global Managing Partner of the Technology Practice and Managing Partner of Heidrick's North America Quality Council.

Boards are not only a professional interest to Ms. Gwin, but a personal passion of hers as well: she has served on the boards of several organizations, and is Chair-Elect for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

"I find board searches are the most interesting work that we do. Apart from the CEO, directors have the most impact on the direction of corporate America and our economy as a whole. And today, there is a real premium on bringing in the most outstanding board members who uphold the highest standards of corporate governance and serve their companies and shareholders well. Being a part of the complicated yet fascinating process of matching 'the best of the best' with the strategic needs of a board is what drew me to this work, and being part of a company like Heidrick that is so committed to finding the top talent, period, makes it all the more rewarding."

Ms. Gwin holds a combined bachelor's and master's degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

If you would like more information, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788 or news@teminandco.com.

About Heidrick & Struggles

Founded in 1953, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSII) is recognized as one of the world's leading executive search firms. With more than 60 offices in the principal cities of 33 countries, it helps its clients to address strategic issues that have human capital solutions in times of growth, turnaround, acquisition, integration, expansion into new markets, and economic flux.

With its executive search, leadership services, and interim management capabilities, Heidrick & Struggles can seamlessly integrate a customized approach to meeting the diverse leadership challenges facing its client organizations. The organization prides itself on its relationships with, and immediate access to, some of the world's most talented people.

SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.