Ben Williams is the former Chief Executive Officer of Spencer Stuart, serving two terms in the role from 2018 to 2024. Previously, Ben was responsible for the firm’s North American business, and prior to that, led the firm’s North American Financial Services Practice. In addition to his firm leadership responsibilities, Ben regularly advises clients on a variety of board and executive leadership recruitment, succession and development matters.
Proven leadership experience
- Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Ben was president of the investment banking and capital markets broker-dealer of Wachovia (Wells Fargo), the nation’s fourth-largest banking institution at the time.
- As head of Wachovia’s global markets and investment banking division, Ben led the firm’s fixed income and equity sales, trading and research activities, as well as investment banking, capital markets, corporate banking and commercial real estate.
- Responsible for over 5,000 employees worldwide, Ben was directly involved in the recruiting, hiring and onboarding of a number of the firm’s senior executives. Ben also served as a member of Wachovia’s senior operating committee, the firm’s asset-liability and diversity committees, and as a management representative on the risk committee of the board of directors.
Ben earned his B.A. in economics from Davidson College, and he served for nine years on the Davidson College Board of Trustees. Ben received his M.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.