Ken Nimitz

As a Managing Director of Stanton Chase, Ken Nimitz is an accomplished retained executive search professional who has completed a number of C-level and VP-level assignments across a broad spectrum of industry segments and functional roles. With an extensive industry-based background combined with technical and strategic experience, Ken specializes in highly collaborative search efforts, partnering with hiring managers, and acting as an extension of their organization and unique culture.

His search portfolio comprises projects for publicly traded companies and PE-owned firms across industry segments such as manufacturing, automotive, industrial/civil construction, energy, technology/software, aerospace and defense, and supply chain/logistics. Ken’s forte as a search professional is his ability to assess organizational strategic requirements while identifying top-to-bottom leadership needs and cultural fit. In addition, his Board-level experience, both as a management representative and as an independent director, allows him to understand the perspectives of both sides of the boardroom table.

Prior to joining Stanton Chase, Ken enjoyed a 25-year career across Global Fortune 500 corporate roles as well as positions in start-up companies. He began his career as an offshore oilfield engineer with Schlumberger Limited, where he cultivated an understanding and appreciation for boots-on-the-ground, field-level management. As he advanced through his 18 years at Schlumberger, Ken was challenged with extensive managerial roles in operations, corporate recruiting, IT development, and product development. His ability to turn around business operations and build organizational cultural unity led to executive positions with Australian-based Neptune Marine Services, followed by VC-backed biotech/oil start-up Glori Energy, and COO of PE-owned Allied-Horizontal Wireline. Ken also garnered broad, global knowledge and cultural exposure through his roles managing business operations in North America, Southeast Asia, South America, the Middle East and Russia.

Ken’s technical background coupled with his operational and leadership proficiencies gives him a unique and excellent perspective for selecting high-performing executives who are well-matched to an organization’s leadership needs. Ken holds a passionate belief that “business is a team sport” and identifying strong leadership is not only about high standards of qualifications, experience, and capabilities but even more about alignment of core values, cultural fit, emotional intelligence, strategic vision, and communication skills.

Ken received his bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.