Overview
Scott Atkinson is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ San Francisco office and co-head of the global Sustainability Practice. He places chief executives, board directors, chief sustainability officers/ESG leaders, and senior executives within companies and organizations that focus on driving environmental and social impact initiatives around the world. Scott also consults on the governance and leadership implications of investor demand for ESG (sustainability) performance.
Experience
In addition to co-leading the global sustainability effort, Scott is a managing partner of the global Venture Capital Practice and a member of the Financial Officers, Technology, and Industrial Tech practices. In this capacity, he places board directors, chief executives, chief financial officers, and senior leaders within disruptive companies experiencing growth, innovation, restructuring, and global expansion.
Scott joined the firm from Digital.ai software, a TPG Capital-backed technology company dedicated to helping global 5000 enterprises achieve digital transformation goals. He began his executive search career with a boutique executive search firm where he consulted with high-growth technology companies.
Scott is frequently quoted in leading news and business publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Thomson Reuters, and is also a regular guest speaker on industry panels and at major universities.
Education
Johns Hopkins University, Masters of Environmental Sciences & Policy, with a concentration in Conservation Biology
Middlebury College, BA in History
Philanthropy and Service
Scott is board chair for Earth League International (ELI), an innovative hybrid non-profit organization consisting of former FBI and CIA officers, analysts, and undercover investigators who protect nature by investigating and exposing wildlife criminals worldwide, including poachers, traffickers, and corrupt government officials. Additionally, he serves on the board and executive committee of Save The Waves Coalition, an international nonprofit dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems.