Robert E. Hallagan

Robert E. Hallagan is Vice Chairman and Co-Leader for the Board Leadership Services Practice at Korn Ferry, the world’s largest talent management firm, with 80 offices worldwide.  

He is a recognized expert in Board Governance and has a strong record of identifying and securing top talent for a wide range of clients whom he advises on Board and CEO issues. Notable complex Board Projects – include building new Boards for companies coming out of bankruptcies: Delphi, Lehman, Cooper Standard, Houghton Mifflin, etc.; spins and carve-outs: Tyco, ITT, Conoco Phillips and numerous Board Succession planning projects: General Dynamics, Textron, and Becton Dickinson.  

Hallagan joined Korn Ferry in 2007 from Heidrick & Struggles where he led the firm as CEO from 1991 to 1997 to record growth and profitability.  

In 1996 he co-founded The Center for Board Leadership, a joint venture with The National Association of Corporate Directors.  He served as the Center’s CEO and then Chairman, leading its mission of developing “Best Practices for Effective Board Leadership.” In this capacity, he co-led the Center’s Blue Ribbon Commission Report on Board Evaluations.  With NACD, the pre-eminent director membership organization with over 15,000 members, Hallagan was a Director from 1997 to 2010, was elected Chairman in 2006, and in 2010 Chairman Emeritus.  He now serves as faculty and Senior Advisor to NACD.

He is a Director of ResCare, Inc., Friends of Children/Boston, and Management Sciences for Health (MSH), and a former Director of Berkshire Life Insurance Company, Harvard Business School Alumni Association, and Boston Business Roundtable.  

Notable Awards:  Has been honored multiple years at the NACD Directorship 100 Awards Ceremony for the most influential people in Corporate Governance and in the Boardroom.

Hallagan holds a master’s of business administration degree from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Williams College.