John M. Abele is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles' Chicago Office and manages the firm's global Marketing, Sales & Strategy Officers Practice. John is also member of our global Industrial Practice where he continues to conduct senior-level general management search assignments.
As leader of the global Marketing, Sales & Strategy Officers Practice, John's focus covers the entire breadth of commercial leadership functions across the industrial, consumer, technology, life sciences, and financial services sectors. John has successfully assisted clients of all sizes and ownership structures - including global corporations, private equity firms, and small, privately held businesses - in building their commercial leadership. His assignments include placing chief marketing officers, chief commercial officers, chief sales officers, and heads of strategy and business development.
Prior to joining Heidrick & Struggles, John spent eight years with McKinsey & Company where he was a leader of their marketing & sales practice and their industrial sector. At McKinsey, John served a variety of clients, but focused much of his time with clients in the industrial, technology, consumer, and services sectors. He has authored numerous articles and publicly presented on a variety of marketing, sales, and business development topics. John has helped clients develop corporate growth and sales strategies, navigate mergers & acquisitions, transform sales forces and distribution channels, improve marketing and pricing organizations, and successfully utilize technology as a means for growth. Earlier in his career, John was also a manager with Hewitt Associates LLC and a consultant with Andersen Consulting.
John volunteers additional time in numerous school activities for Incarnate Word Academy and in coaching several youth sports.