Professional Profile

Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor is a partner in the San Francisco office in charge of Heidrick & Struggles' Venture Capital Practice, and a member of the Global Technology practice. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor focuses on executive-level search for high-growth technology companies with deep expertise in enterprise software, security, networking, IT services and business process outsourcing. Mercedes joins Heidrick from the premier boutique search firm, Highland Partners.

Prior to joining Highland Partners, she was president and co-founder of iCOM Consultants, an emerging technologies boutique she co-founded in 1999 to specifically address the unique hiring needs of venture-backed technology companies. At iCOM, Mercedes built an elite team of talented, aggressive, professionals, leveraging technology and allowing iCOM clients to maximize their global talent acquisition. In addition to serving as president of iCOM, Mercedes advised a number of emerging technology firms, helping them to dramatically improve their business development and marketing strategy.

Before founding iCOM, Mercedes was vice president of VF&Co (a Silicon Valley-based HR consulting firm), where she established and managed the firm's executive search practice. Preceding her involvement with VF&Co, Mercedes was vice president of Marketing for XL Insurance (a global excess insurance, reinsurance and financial risk management company with holdings of over US$13 billion). Mercedes managed XL's marketing efforts at their head office in Bermuda before moving to Sydney, Australia to open the company's first office in the Pacific Rim. In Sydney, she led XL's efforts to impact the difficult Asian/Pacific insurance and financial risk management industry. Mercedes' international business experience includes employment and residence in Bermuda, Australia, Southeast Asia, New York, San Francisco and Boston.

Education

Mercedes is a graduate of Boston University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business communications and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design.