Managing Director
John C. Lamar
John Lamar is one of two principals of The Alexander Group and serves as head of the firm’s Professional Services Practice. As a leading recruiter for consulting and Am Law 100 firms, he is internationally recognized for his proficiency with C-suite fit: recruiting management executives with the skills and cultural alignment to successfully lead various administrative, operational and strategic roles. His functional expertise encompasses finance, operations, information technology and security, practice management, knowledge management, business development and marketing, talent management, recruiting, and diversity & inclusion.
Based in San Francisco, Mr. Lamar divides his time primarily between major markets on both U.S. coasts, plus London, balancing the needs of each executive search with personal attention to the development and maintenance of his long-term client partnerships. Mr. Lamar’s diverse experience extends beyond his professional services practice; he has recruited leaders for clients in both the public and private sectors, ranging from emerging growth businesses to Fortune 100 corporations.
Prior to joining The Alexander Group in 1993, Mr. Lamar served as a senior consultant with the Financial Advisory Services practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York and Houston, and he was an investment banker with the New York office of a Hong Kong-based merchant banking firm.
"Search is a conduit to get to what I really enjoy and that is building relationships with my clients. They’ve become my friends and we’ve been doing searches with the same clients for years."
Education
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University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Arts
Industry Experience
Legal and Professional Services
Energy
Financial Services
What's the highest compliment a client can give you?
In an industry where you are only as good as your last search, receiving repeat business is a clear indicator that we are meeting, and hopefully exceeding, our clients' expectations.
What do you love about your work?
I enjoy forging long-term relationships with our clients. And I love my colleagues at The Alexander Group. They are dedicated, caring, and committed to surpassing client expectations.
What do you think differentiates The Alexander Group from other executive search firms?
Several things: commitment to exceptional client service; a consultative, creative approach to the search process; world-class research and knowledge management that allow us to map talent across industries and geographies; and our pragmatic approach to fees, which enables us to focus on identifying the best candidates--not just the most expensive ones.
Recent Articles
Hello, I’m the Internal Candidate…Remember Me?
A few years ago, we received an email from an internal candidate we’d interviewed for a client: “John, you and I met over a year ago during the course of my firm’s Chief Financial Officer search, where I was the internal candidate. While I was not chosen for the position, you communicated often during the
Five Questions With Outstanding Leaders
Earlier this year, I was privileged to join the National Advisory Board for Life Science Cares. Life Science Cares provides a platform for life science companies and their employees to make a difference in eradicating poverty. It raises money to award grants to community nonprofits that implement research-based survival, education, and economic sustainability solutions, supercharging these
Leadership Teams Shifting To Quiet DEI Initiatives in the Wake of Diversity Backlash
Peruse the headlines, and it seems the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion movement has moved on—at least for now. The roster of companies distancing themselves from DEI hiring and practices is a Who’s Who of familiar names—Zoom, Home Depot, DoorDash, Tractor Supply, and Lyft. Social and cultural tastemakers Meta, Tesla, and X join the mix of
Six Things To Consider When Contemplating a Board Seat
One of the most frequently asked questions we get is “How do I get on a corporate board if I’m not already on a board?” The hardest board will be your first board. Here is what you need to know. 1) The Process Is Different than Applying for a Full Time Position A board seat
Is an Industry Outsider Right for your Organization?
“We want someone who can think outside the box.” As a well-worn business cliché, this phrase elicits groans from hiring executives and recruiters alike. But considering the competitiveness of the executive talent market, driven by the lowest unemployment rate since 1969—along with increasing awareness of the need for diverse perspectives in the workplace—looking outside the industry
Business Travel Faux Pas:
Belgian Waffles for Breakfast? I typically travel solo, but observing a lawyer with a client at the airport last week made me realize there should be an etiquette guide for business travel with your manager or a client. Though I’ve written Road Warrior blogs, I’m certainly no Ms. Manners of the road, but the following seems obvious.