Chris Gaunt leads Spencer Stuart’s Financial Officer Practice across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He works with boards, CEOs and investors on a variety of Group CFO appointments for a range of publicly traded companies, as well as for private equity-backed portfolio companies. In addition, he leads searches for non-executive directors to join boards, typically with a finance background. Chris has a strong international focus, often for clients in emerging economies who wish to access the global executive talent pool.
Finance function search experience with global perspective
- In addition to his vast experience conducting finance function searches, he brings deep expertise in building teams for newly emerged or growing organizations as well as private equity portfolio companies.
- Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Chris worked with another leading international executive search firm, and most recently served as the managing partner of its UK CFO practice. He began his career in search in the firm’s New York office.
- Earlier, Chris worked as a management consultant for the Washington, D.C.-based Advisory Board Company. In that capacity, he led consulting teams working with senior executives across industries on their human resources strategy and operations.
Chris holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, and also studied in Paris. He has lived in the U.S., France, Brazil and the U.K.; he speaks English, French and Portuguese. Outside of work, Chris is a qualified yoga instructor, a PADI certified scuba diver and an avid amateur cellist. Chris is a major advocate of diversity, equity & inclusion and serves as our International LGBTQ+ Affinity Group executive sponsor.