Over 46 years, Dr. Bjørn Johansson has shaped how boards and CEOs think about leadership, governance and succession. He has advised many of the world’s most prominent listed and private companies, as well as leading NGOs, and has conducted search assignments in more than 40 countries and across all continents. Bjørn has helped place more than 1,500 chairs, non-executive directors, CEOs and CFOs.
A member of Spencer Stuart’s Board and CEO Practice, Bjørn launched his executive search career with the firm in 1980. Five years later, he opened the Swiss practice of another large global executive search firm and was elected to the parent company’s board in the U.S. Subsequently, he was appointed managing director international board services of that firm. In 1993, he founded one of the world’s most respected boutique search firms, Dr. Bjørn Johansson Associates AG, which was exclusively focused on executive and non-executive board appointments. After more than 33 years, he integrated his firm into the Swiss practice of Spencer Stuart in 2026.
Over four decades of defining excellence in global executive search
- Bjørn has received numerous recognitions for his search work including the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) Lifetime Achievement Award, the Global 200 Executive Recruiters award, and recognition in Business Week’s 50 Most Influential Headhunters in the World.
- He has contributed globally to TV, print and digital media and has spoken at conferences and events as an opinion leader on governance and management, as well as attending the Annual General Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos more than 30 times.
- Bjørn has founded or led a number of business, social and cultural organizations, including the Nordic Executive Club, Ittinger Management Panel, Global Board Advisors, Grasshopper Griffith Club, Roundtable International and World Council of Young Men's Service Clubs (WOCO).
Bjørn obtained his master’s degree (lic. oec. HSG) and his Ph.D. (Dr. oec. HSG) from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, following two years of post-graduate studies in the U.S., including Harvard Business School, University of California, Berkeley, and the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. He has also completed the three-year Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Program. He speaks Danish, English, German, Norwegian and Swedish.