Kevin A. McNerney
Class of '80
Kevin McNerney has held senior roles in the information technology industry, in the executive search industry, and in investment banking. A native of the Washington, D.C., area, Mr. McNerney was primarily responsible for building Heidrick & Struggles' Washington office after 10 years as a successful software industry executive. He went on to an investment banking firm, focusing on advising boards and management teams regarding mergers and acquisitions. Mr. McNerney returned to the executive search industry as Head of Korn/Ferry’s North America Technology and Global Professional Services Practices. He went on to co-found a boutique executive search firm before merging his practice with Chartwell Partners to establish the firm’s presence in the greater Washington, D.C., region.
Mr. McNerney is well-known in the Northern Virginia and greater Washington business community and has been a member of several private and public company boards of directors, including the Northern Virginia Technology Council, The Northern Virginia Roundtable, Axent Technology, Bioscan Incorporated, CS Solutions, and the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce Advisory Board, and was co-founder of Swing Fore the Cure, a charity that funds breast cancer research.
Mr. McNerney has conducted senior-level general management, finance, technology, marketing, and corporate director searches across a broad range of markets, including information technology, IT services, government contracting, financial services, media, and consumer Internet businesses. His practice includes assignments with state and local governments as well as trade associations.
Before entering executive search, Mr. McNerney was Executive Vice President for publicly held Systems Center, a NYSE-listed provider of network management software. He oversaw management of worldwide operations, including sales, customer support, and marketing for North America, for Europe, and for Distributor Operations. Previously, he was the company’s Chief Financial Officer, playing an integral role in the firm’s initial public offering and subsequently leading efforts to acquire multiple companies as part of the firm’s aggressive growth strategy.
Mr. McNerney has a B.S. in Commerce (concentration in accounting) from the University of Virginia, and attended the Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business Executive Program. In addition, he is a Certified Public Accountant.