Presidential Candidate Search Committee Meetings

Minutes for Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, 1:35 p.m.

 

I. Report of Subcommittee on Executive Search Firms: Chairman Loadholt called on Mr. Smith who explained that during the previous meeting this committee appointed a subcommittee to recommend three search firms to be interviewed. Requests for Proposals were submitted to eleven search firms; eight companies forwarded proposals for consideration. The subcommittee unanimously agreed to recommend the following four search firms, instead of the requested three, in case one of the companies was not able to participate: R. William Funk & Associates; Heidrick & Struggles; Korn/Ferry International; and Isaacson, Miller.

 

R. William Funk & Associates is currently handling the USC Chapel Hill Chancellor search which is anticipated to conclude in the near future. The Chronicle of Higher Education cited Mr. Bill Funk as "the guru of higher education recruiting." Mr. Smith indicated that Mr. Funk has considerable major university experience with similar sized institutions as Carolina. The Subcommittee believed that he would have significant contacts with the caliber of candidates the University is interested in interviewing for the position.

 

The next firm, Heidrick & Struggles, is a top-rated, large international firm. Contacts include Mr. David Love, who is relocating from Dallas, Texas, to Asheville, North Carolina; and Ms. Ellen Brown from Atlanta, Georgia. The Wall Street Journal rated this company at the top of the list of 30 competitors for quality of candidates, value of services and overall reputation. The firm also has similar institutional experience and extensive contacts.

 

The third firm which the Subcommittee selected is Korn/Ferry International. Those individuals spearheading the search from this company include Mr. Kenneth Kring from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who is the new managing director for national university searches. He succeeded Mr. John Kuhnle, who has conducted several previous searches for the University who is now the managing director for international searches.

 

The fourth firm, Isaacson, Miller, is based in Washington, D.C. The Subcommittee selected this company because of the quality of the proposal. Michael Baer, a former university provost and graduate of Emory University, is the contact person.

 

Mr. Smith concluded that the four selected firms have substantial major university contacts. The other four that submitted proposals were not chosen for various reasons, most typically because the Subcommittee did not think they have extensive experience with similar caliber institutions as Carolina.

 

Chairman Loadholt asked that the Committee discuss possible dates for interviewing these firms. Secretary Stepp noted that he had contacted the four selected firms and had tentatively scheduled Thursday, March 13th, and Friday, March 14th, pending Committee approval. It was requested that he contact the one company which was not available on Thursday to determine if it was possible to arrange that interview on Wednesday afternoon, March 12th, which would interface more suitably with Committee members' schedules.