NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading executive search firm, today announced that Jeff Yolen and Başak Ozer have joined the firm’s Technology Practice. The new additions to the team, both based in Boston, will build on Russell Reynolds Associates’ expertise in the technology sector.
“We are pleased to welcome Jeff and Başak to the firm. The unrelenting pace of technology innovation is bringing about fundamental changes to business across all industries. Russell Reynolds Associates is committed to ensuring we have the best team in place to address the leadership needs of our clients in the Technology sector and beyond,” said Mark Adams, leader of Russell Reynolds Associates’ operations in the United States.
Jeff Yolen, Technology
Jeff Yolen leads Russell Reynolds Associates’ Software Practice on the East Coast. His work focuses on software, mobile and digital assignments for companies based across the U.S. and abroad. He works with publicly traded companies, and with private equity, growth equity, and venture capital firms to recruit senior leaders to their portfolio companies.
Prior to joining the firm, Jeff was an executive search leader focused on C-level and other executive searches for software and internet clients. Before that, Jeff spearheaded the U.S. practice for a leading executive search boutique in Europe. Earlier in his career, Jeff spent over 15 years as a software, internet and mobile executive and investor. He was Chief Revenue Officer of digital media startup Sphere, which was acquired by AOL, where he served as Vice President. He was also a Venture Partner at New Atlantic Ventures and he served in executive roles at Virgin Management, Real Networks and Kozmo.com.
Jeff holds an A.B. in urban studies from Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and an M.P.A., focused on international affairs, from Harvard University.
Başak Ozer, Technology
Başak Ozer advises Fortune 500 organization on innovation and talent, with particular emphasis on recruiting high-impact leaders with expertise in the areas of IoT, mobile, digital, transformation, wearables, consumer internet and big data. She also works closely with private equity and venture capital firms to recruit senior leaders to their portfolio companies.
Başak has an extensive background as a high-technology entrepreneur, executive and investor. She has founded and grown venture-backed startups and led divisions at global corporations. Başak joined the firm from a boutique strategy consulting firm that she founded, where she served European and U.S.-based clients in the high-tech, IoT, health and biotechnology industries.
Prior to that, Başak was the Global Head of Mobile Applications at Nokia, where she led a business unit that leveraged big data for conceptualizing, developing and marketing mobile apps for the IoT market. Before that, she was an executive team member at two venture-backed big data startups: Tele Atlas (acquired by TomTom) and Quattro Wireless (acquired by Apple). In both cases, as Chief Product Officer, Başak hired and led cross-functional teams, launched numerous successful products and services and was instrumental in each company’s exponential growth and successful exit. Başak began her career at Honeywell, where she held P&L responsibilities as the European and Global General Manager for their sensors business unit and also served the IoT, health technology, connected home and connected car markets.
Başak earned an electrical engineering degree from Istanbul Technical University and an M.B.A. from Michigan State University.
About Russell Reynolds Associates
Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leader in assessment, recruitment and succession planning for boards of directors, chief executive officers and key roles within the C-suite. With more than 370 consultants in 46 offices around the world, we work closely with public, private and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions. We help our clients build teams of transformational leaders who can meet today’s challenges and anticipate the digital, economic, environmental and political trends that are reshaping the global business environment.
