High-Profile Executives Join Diversified Search Group: Leaders in Chicago and Washington, D.C. boost firm’s momentum and growth

June 07, 2021 Share this article:

Diversified Search Group (DSG), the exclusive USA member of AltoPartners, is proud to announce the addition of three highly-regarded leaders as managing directors in its burgeoning Nonprofit, Corporate, and Life Sciences practices. Following an accelerated demand for new leadership in the wake of the pandemic, the firm has seen a 30 percent surge in business; and DSG’s momentum continues to swell with market growth in all sectors. With the firm’s guiding purpose of cultivating new leadership for a changing world, Diversified Search Group is one of the top-ten executive recruiting firms in the United States, as ranked in 2021 by Forbes.

STEVE EDWARDS joins the Nonprofit and Connected Leadership practices as Managing Director, based in Chicago. Before joining the firm, Edwards served as Chief Content Officer of WBEZ Chicago Public Media, Chicago’s NPR News station. Previously, he spent nearly 20 years as an award-winning journalist, producer, and program host, appearing on the BBC, Bloomberg News, PBS, and more. From 2012 to 2017, Edwards served as Executive Director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, a non-partisan program devoted to elevating civic discourse and cultivating the next generation of public service leaders. He is also the recipient of numerous journalism honors, including the Grand Award in Radio from the National Headliner Club, the RTNDA’s Edward R. Murrow Award, as well as awards from The Associated Press, NABJ, the Society of Professional Journalists, and UPI, among others. Edwards earned his B.A. in political science from Amherst College and was a Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan.

ROBIN GOOLSBEE joins the Corporate and Life Sciences practices as Managing Director, based in Chicago. For the last eight years, Robin has served as a Senior Principal with Business Talent Group, the largest network of independent consultants in the U.S., leading key client relationships across Fortune 1000 life sciences clients, major foundations, and professional services firms. Prior to her time with BTS, Goolsbee was an independent strategy consultant, an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, and Director of Business Development at MTV International. She began her career with The Boston Consulting Group in their Consumer Goods practice. Goolsbee earned her B.A. from Yale University and MBA from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.

DAVID KUGURU joins the Corporate practice as Managing Director, based in Washington, D.C. He joins Diversified Search Group following time with T-Mobile/Sprint, serving as Director of Internet of Things Sales, where he co-launched the first cohort of “Curiosity University,” a certification for advanced IoT experts; and co-led the identification of joint IoT, 5G & AR R&D projects and engaged in bridging the digital divide for Native American tribes. Previously, he served as Strategic Advisor for International Finance Corporation in Washington, D.C., and as Managing Executive at Vodafone Business. Kuguru earned his B.S. at Messiah College, MBA at Eastern University, and MLA at the University of Pennsylvania.

“We are pleased that Steve, Robin, and David have joined our firm, adding their expertise, ideas, and energy as we remain committed to setting the standard for excellence in the executive search industry,” said CEO and AltoPartners Global Board member Dale E. Jones. “By attracting talent form a variety of backgrounds and skill sets, Diversified Search Group’s growth mirrors that which we deliver to our clients.”