Experience

CareerSpring

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisory Board Member

  • Nov 2021 - Present

  San Francisco Bay Area



FOCUS Search Partners, A Vaco Company

• United States
• Staffing and Recruiting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Partner, Head of Growth and AI Practice Leader

  • 2016 - Present

  San Francisco Bay Area Adam Charlson serves as the Managing Partner of FOCUS Search Partners, the retained executive search division of Vaco (a billion dollar, private equity owned strategic talent acquisition firm). As the Co-Leader of Vaco’s retained executive search division, Adam has been tasked with growing the firm and it’s newly created technology practice. Adam came to FOCUS and Vaco as a result of the acquisition of his firm, Charlson Partners. Founded in 2001, Focus Search Partners was acquired by… Show more Adam Charlson serves as the Managing Partner of FOCUS Search Partners, the retained executive search division of Vaco (a billion dollar, private equity owned strategic talent acquisition firm). As the Co-Leader of Vaco’s retained executive search division, Adam has been tasked with growing the firm and it’s newly created technology practice. Adam came to FOCUS and Vaco as a result of the acquisition of his firm, Charlson Partners. Founded in 2001, Focus Search Partners was acquired by Vaco in 2014, a billion dollar consulting and strategic solutions firm. With 45+ employees and 18 partners spanning the United States and abroad, Focus Search Partners specializes in building teams to grow companies, focusing on recruiting board members, executives, and senior management team members. For more information, visit focussearchpartners.com. Show less



Charlson Partners (acquired by FOCUS Search Partners, a Vaco company)

• Managing Partner & CEO

  • 2014 - 2016

  San Francisco Bay Area Retained executive search firm, which successfully served some of the largest publicly traded companies in technology, as well as the most respected private equity and venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Over a two-year period, Adam took Charlson Partners from an idea to a multi million-dollar firm with offices in Northern and Southern California, as well as Austin and Chicago.



Top 5 Retained Executive Search firm

• Executive Vice President & Managing Director-West Coast

  • 2012 - 2014

  San Francisco Bay Area



Korn/Ferry International

• Managing Director & Co-Leader, Global Software Practice

  • 2008 - 2012

  Korn Ferry is the preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm. They are nearly 7,000 colleagues, sharing a single purpose: helping leaders, organizations, and societies succeed by releasing the full power and potential of people. Korn/Ferry delivers services through three divisions:Specializing in the placement of senior management team members with technology, financial services, enterprise systems, and clinical research organizations. As Co-Leader of the Global Software… Show more Korn Ferry is the preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm. They are nearly 7,000 colleagues, sharing a single purpose: helping leaders, organizations, and societies succeed by releasing the full power and potential of people. Korn/Ferry delivers services through three divisions:Specializing in the placement of senior management team members with technology, financial services, enterprise systems, and clinical research organizations. As Co-Leader of the Global Software Practice, I was responsible for providing thought-leadership, strategy, and support around how best to support Korn/Ferry's software clients around the world. Show less



Spencer Stuart

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal

  • 2004 - 2008

  San Francisco Bay Area Spencer Stuart is one of the world’s leading executive search consulting firms. Founded in 1956 and privately owned, we are the adviser of choice among organizations seeking guidance and counsel on senior leadership needs. We work with clients across a range of industries, from the world’s largest companies to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurial startups and nonprofit organizations.

• Senior Client Partner

  • Dec 1998 - Jul 2004

  San Francisco Bay Area Korn Ferry is the preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm. They are nearly 7,000 colleagues, sharing a single purpose: helping leaders, organizations, and societies succeed by releasing the full power and potential of people. Korn/Ferry delivers services through three divisions:Specializing in the placement of senior management team members with technology, financial services, enterprise systems, and clinical research organizations.