Anne Martin Simonds

Annie is an impartial adviser to the CEOs and boards of some of the world’s most high-profile organizations in her role at Boards & CEO, Healthcare, Global Development, Spencer Stuart Washington, D.C. She guides her clients through substantive change, innovation and social entrepreneurship, often by bringing together the private, public and third sector leaders. She has significant expertise helping rapidly evolving organizations grow where existing models may not exist, applying an innovator’s mindset to help ensure the right level of change to catalyze versus paralyze. She looks beyond pedigree in order to recruit leaders who align not only with the role, but also will succeed within the broader context of the operating environment or system. 

In addition to recruiting CEOs and board members, she advises on organizational restructuring, organizational culture and critical board/governance issues, including succession. She is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. She serves on the boards of IAVI, Project HOPE, and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, bringing firsthand perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing boards and leaders at the intersection of public, private and third sector implementers and funders. 

Annie earned her B.A. in biology from the University of Virginia; Post-graduate business program at the McIntire Business Institute, University of Virginia, and the Executive Education Leadership Program at Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.