Phil Johnston brings decades of combined executive search and senior-level technology and healthcare industry experience to his client work. He has conducted more than 200 board, CEO and CEO succession assignments for global companies. He leads Board Practice efforts on the West Coast and is a human resources functional expert. He also provides executive assessments and executive coaching to clients. Phil previously led the Western U.S. business for the firm, including offices in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County and Seattle. More recently, he led the firm’s Southeast Asia business based in Singapore.
Board and C-level expertise across healthcare and technology
- Earlier in his career, Phil served as the top human resources executive for a number of fast-growing software companies in Silicon Valley including Octel and Mosaix, which were both acquired by Lucent.
- As vice president for Teknekron, he served as CEO for Teknekron Infoswitch and as a board member of portfolio companies, including TIBCO (acquired by Vista Equity Partners). He began his career at American Hospital Supply Corporation (now Baxter).
- Phil has published numerous articles on corporate governance, CEO succession and cultural agility and has spoken at numerous conferences.
Phil has served on several public, private and nonprofit boards. He currently serves on the board of SEAL Future Foundation, which provides transition support to SEAL military entering the civilian workforce, and he also serves on the advisory board of Cornucopian Capital, a private equity firm that focuses on health care innovation. Phil attended University of Minnesota, where he received a Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) in psychology and a master's in industrial relations at Carlson School of Management. He is also a Hudson certified executive coach.