TIM BOERKOEL

Tim Boerkoel is a New York-based executive search and talent professional and the Founder of The Brownestone Group.  He has more than 25 years of experience recruiting executive leadership to emerging and premier brands domestically and internationally.  Tim has led over 400 successful searches with a focus in consumer products, entertainment, hospitality, luxury, fashion and retail, and has a record of introducing clients to uniquely successful CEOs, Presidents, COOs and other key functional leaders. His professional background in retail, coupled with his deep executive experience throughout the C-Suite and across product categories, enables him to bring fresh and effective solutions to both recurring and new market challenges.

Recognized as a trusted advisor and partner to clients and candidates alike, Tim’s strength – and his mission – is connecting businesses with talent that will symbiotically produce growth, innovation and transformation. His dual focus on clients and industry talent is unique to the search industry and in-line with his company’s commitment to finding solutions while ensuring authenticity, creativity and integrity. In addition to recruiting impactful leaders, The Brownestone Group connects executives and companies to potential strategic partners, subject matter experts, and initiative-specific advisors.  Tim is an engaging relationship builder who leverages emotional and market intelligence for the benefit of brands and people.

Prior to launching The Brownestone Group, Tim served as Managing Partner and Global Director of Consumer Markets  Practice at CTPartners, then a premier executive search firm.  In this role, he built a global team and scaled a new revenue segment for the business , solidifying the firm’s reputation and participation in areas previously unserved.  Tim provided strategic management and thought leadership guidance in addition to leading multiple CEO and C-Suite searches.  In the decade prior, Tim served as a leading Partner at Heidrick & Struggles within the Consumer Markets, Chief Marketing Officers, and Chief Human Resources Officers practices, following earlier leadership roles at Herbert Mines Associates and Russell Reynolds.

Tim, a retail industry executive before pivoting to consulting, held numerous senior positions in merchandising, store operations and human resources with leading retailers such as the Gap and Dayton Hudson/Target Corporation.  He is a Board Advisor of a Hong Kong-based global apparel manufacturer, an advisor to The Retail Summit, and an active contributor of thought leadership Q&As to Women’s Wear Daily, calling attention to the brands, ideas and leaders changing the consumer markets industries.

Royce Hauw

Royce Hauw brings a wide range of pertinent and unique experiences within the executive search industry.  His background spans strategic consulting from A.T. Kearney to The Boston Consulting Group, as well as experience working with prominent brands such as Goodyear and Samsung/Chiel.  Royce has experience in multiple industries including consumer markets, industrial, technology, and more currently with The Brownestone Group.  Earlier in his career, he worked at Heidrick & Struggles, CT Partners, and Horton International.

Having had extensive experience as an external advisor/recruiter, internal advisor/recruiter and as a client, Royce brings a well-rounded, modern perspective to traditional search industry practices. He has lived and worked globally (North & South America, Asia, and Europe) his entire career, and has a great interest in learning about different cultures, as well as the evolution of corporate culture.  Royce completed his first degree in Economics at UCLA USA and his Masters in International Business Administration at Yonsei University Korea.

Lauren Simon

BIO IN PROGRESS

Karen Chelini

Karen Chelini’s career has spanned fashion, retail, entertainment/computer games and software in global and regional roles focused on Human Resources and Talent.  Karen, in recent years, has focused on growth and startup companies to oversee and help build Human Resources capabilities in order to provide leadership, guidance, and results for company infrastructure, talent, integrations and programs.

Karen was a member in Gap Inc.’s internal executive recruiting division with a focus on all senior level positions based in New York and San Francisco.  Later, she moved to other internal positions of greater responsibility such as LucasArts, Sony PlayStation, Apple with a primary focus on talent management spanning all functional areas.  Karen then moved to the startup and software companies, most recently at a global SaaS company, then as Head of People at ServiceRocket, as well as various consulting assignments with early stage startups like Brandless and So Good So You. 

Amy Zerman

Amy Zerman possesses a deep understanding of global consumer markets having worked with best-in-class executive search firms.  Amy’s innate curiosity combined with her passion to partner with diverse colleagues has been beneficial for the clients and candidates she has worked with internationally.  

Her tenure at EA Hughes, Korn Ferry and Russell Reynolds Associates, along with her earlier background spanning CBS News, Pratt Institute, Peat Marwick Mitchell and The Public Relations Society of America has been invaluable for the success in her career to date.

Paul Raffin

Builder: Transformative and Bold. These are the three words that one hears when speaking about Paul’s approach to business. He has an unapparelled track record as a successful brand steward, driving results for those companies he’s helmed with progressive, collaborative, strategic thinking.

Paul is an internationally known C-Suite executive, with experience managing businesses across a wide spectrum of the Fashion and Retail Industries. His background spans department store, wholesale, direct to consumer, vertical specialty retail, luxury, trading company, men’s, women’s, kids, apparel, home, accessories and footwear. He has held and improved the bottom line as CEO and President for John Varvatos, The Frye Company, Li & Fung, Frette, Express, J.Crew and Gant. Given his transformative approach, Paul has also been sought out to sit on the Boards of Directors for, dELiA*s, Rosie Pope, and The Bombay Company, as well as the advisory boards of over a dozen startups. His most recent advisory work is with Enigma Data, a technology company at the forefront of AI enabled hyper-personalization.

Paul has invaluable experience in developing brands that resonate with consumers. He has led $1Billion+ revenue businesses as well as high profile entrepreneurial ventures. Throughout his career, Paul has utilized his merchant skills toward producing impressive financial results. An avid student of the industry, he is passionate about the art and science of “pattern recognition” and enjoys discovering innovative solutions aimed at enhancing customer engagement.