Cross Hill Partners is a retained executive search firm formed in January 1999, by "career search professionals" who possess a combined 30 years and over 400 assignments of executive search experience gained with some of the industry's leading large and boutique firms. We are part of the next generation of search consultants, the ones that have "grown-up" in the search business. Expert in the tools and techniques (the science) of executive search, we also possess the experience to have the insight, empathy and wisdom (the art) necessary to be effective executive search consultants.
We formed Cross Hill Partners because we saw an opportunity to utilize the tools of technology and the information age to leverage our experience in creating a different business model for executive search. Our model enables us to deliver the highest quality services to our clients without the limitations, distractions and encumbrances inherent in traditionally structured search firms.
The Partners
Diane Loeffler Shea
Prior to establishing Cross Hill Partners in January 1999, Diane spent fifteen years in executive search with one of the largest search firms, two boutique firms and as sole proprietor of an executive search/research consulting firm. Throughout, her primary focus has been on financial services.
From 1993 to1999, as sole proprietor of TCO Consulting, she provided unbundled search/"hired gun associate" services to a diverse group of corporate and search firm clients including Heidrick & Struggles, SpencerStuart, Highland Search Group (now TMP Worldwide), and several search boutiques throughout North America
Diane began her career in executive search in 1984 at Bruce R. Raines Associates (now Raines International) as one of two professionals dedicated to the Investment Banking/Investment Management practice. Her clients included First Boston, Morgan Stanley, Kidder Peabody and Chemical Bank. In 1986 she joined the "bulge bracket" search firm of Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc.
During the next six and a half years, she served as a research associate, Director of Research for the New York Headquarters office, and as a line recruiter. During this time, she gained a unique perspective on the resources available to the search professional and perhaps, more importantly, on the pressures inherent in conducting search at a major global search firm. She participated in the design and implementation of an AS-400 based, then state-of-the-application database which tracked over 200,000 executives and she recruited, trained and managed an eleven-member research department.
As a member of the financial services practice for five of those years, Diane worked in investment banking, capital markets, securities analysis, investment management and insurance. She spent just over one year deployed to the burgeoning Health Care practice headquartered in the Stamford, Connecticut office, and worked with clients in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology/medical devices and managed care/health care services.
Diane joined Norman Broadbent International, Inc. in early 1992. This firm was headquartered in London and had been a spin-off of the Russell Reynolds financial services practice there some years before. She left the organization in 1993 to establish TCO Consulting.
Diane holds a B.A. in Political Studies from Adelphi University and a J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary. Born and raised in Garden City, New York, she resides in Remsenburg with her two children, and their father, Christopher.
Christopher J. Shea
Prior to establishing Cross Hill Partners in 1999, Chris spent fifteen years in executive search working his way "up-the-ranks" from junior associate to Partner working on some 200 assignments during this time. From 1992 to 1999, he was a Partner with Ingram & Aydelotte Inc., a mid-sized firm in New York.
Chris' experience is concentrated in the financial services industry and he has completed assignments for global financial services concerns in New York, Moscow, London, Jakarta and Hong Kong. Recently, his focus has been in the institutional "e-finance" sector working with major institutions seeking to both expand and protect their existing franchises by leveraging connectivity and technology. His financial services clients have included "Bulge Bracket" investment banks, global money center banks, property casualty insurers, and services providers.
Chris' experience in the financial services industry is balanced with significant experience in the media/entertainment industries, particularly publishing. These "content providers" who educate, entertain, and inform have undergone dramatic change and were among the first pioneers of the "e-commerce revolution". As pioneers, they were amongst the first to recognize the challenges in building profitable e-commerce based business models. Chris' work within the media industry led him into the world of new media and e-commerce where he completed assignments for early stage e-commerce companies as well as established units of large media enterprises.
Chris began his career in 1984 with Bruce Raines Associates (now Raines International), focusing on financial management assignments within the securities industry. In 1987, shortly after the stock market crash, he joined KPMG Peat Marwick, as a consultant in the executive search practice. KPMG Peat Marwick's executive search practice was the seventh largest executive search practice in the world at the time.
While at KPMG, he worked with foreign banks, retail and media industries primarily in operations and information technology functions. In 1990, KPMG Peat Marwick elected to exit the executive search business resulting in a management buyout of the practice led by Dwight Foster, the Managing Partner of the practice. Chris stayed with the successor firm, D.E. Foster Partners, until 1992, when he joined Ingram & Aydelotte.
Born and raised in Westchester County New York, Chris received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Fordham University. He is a member of Knollwood Country Club. He resides in Remsenburg, New York with his wife, Diane, and their two children.
